10 Movies to Watch If You Like the Pushpa Movies
The Pushpa movies, starring Allu Arjun, have captivated audiences with their mix of high-octane action, intense drama, and mass appeal. Set against the backdrop of red sandalwood smuggling, Pushpa: The Rise (2021) and its sequel Pushpa: The Rule (2024) introduced audiences to an electrifying protagonist who fights his way up from being a low-level laborer to a feared underworld figure.
With its stylized action, gripping storytelling, and memorable dialogues, the Pushpa franchise has cemented itself as a modern action classic in Indian cinema. If you love rugged antiheroes, action-packed narratives, and larger-than-life storytelling, here are 10 movies that capture a similar essence.
The K.G.F films, much like Pushpa, follow the rise of a fearless, rebellious hero from humble beginnings to criminal supremacy. In this first chapter, Yash’s portrayal of Rocky, a gold mine mafia kingpin, is as intense and charismatic as Allu Arjun’s Pushpa Raj, making this Kannada-language epic a must-watch.
Kamal Haasan’s Vikram blends brutal action and a gripping crime saga, much like Pushpa: The Rise. With a stellar cast including Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil (who also stars in Pushpa), this Tamil film offers hard-hitting action sequences and a battle between law enforcement and a powerful crime syndicate.
A timeless Tamil classic, Nayakan, directed by Mani Ratnam, tells the story of a man rising through the ranks of the underworld while fighting against systemic oppression. Like Pushpa, it showcases an antihero’s journey with deep emotional stakes and a raw, gritty aesthetic.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees follows the rise of a smuggler-turned-powerful figure in Gujarat’s crime world. With a mix of action, drama, and mass appeal, Raees shares Pushpa’s essence of a protagonist challenging the system and rising against all odds.
Ram Charan’s Rangasthalam is another mass-action epic featuring a protagonist who takes on corrupt forces in a rural setting. With its rustic setting, powerful performances, and a hero’s relentless rise to power, it shares Pushpa's spirit of rebellion.
