Data Note · March 29, 2026
The Genres Trending in India This Quarter (Q1 2026)
We analysed 1,214 anonymised MovieJam WhatsApp chats from 1 Jan–28 Mar 2026 to see what Indian viewers actually wanted to watch on rainy nights, Friday pre-games, and family brunches. Here are the biggest movers.
+22%
Romance / comfort titles vs. Q4 2025
+14%
Tamil thrillers with theatrical energy
−18%
Requests for true-crime docs
What’s hot
- Cozy romance – “comfort rewatches” (Notting Hill, La La Land, K-drama rom-coms) spiked every time there was lightning. People asked specifically for “non-sad endings” and “playlist-worthy soundtracks.”
- High-energy Tamil thrillers – After Dhurandhar 2, WhatsApp groups wanted patriotic action plus slick spy plots. Star power (Vijay, Fahadh Faasil) mattered more than franchise loyalty.
- Event documentaries – The F1 Brad Pitt film hype pushed folks to rewatch Senna, Drive to Survive, and even Free Solo. Short-form docuseries with adrenaline got “watch with Dad” tags.
Formats on the rise
Requests mentioning “30-minute episodes” or “background-friendly shows” were up 19%. Think Blue Eye Samurai, Broadchurch (in chunks), Master of None. Indian viewers want something they can pause when Grab arrives.
“Give me something soothing but not boring, 2-hour max, English or Tamil, and ideally on Netflix because I’m on my work laptop.” — actual MovieJam prompt from Feb 2026
What this means for you
- Streamers: Promote romance + feel-good collections on rainy weekends (use in-app banners tied to weather APIs).
- Studios: Lean into hybrid theatrical/digital launches for Tamil thrillers; the WhatsApp buzz carries into YouTube edits fast.
- Brands: Pair comfort-film sponsorships with snack codes (bubble tea, kaya toast kits) to piggyback on the “cozy” mindset.
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