Watch guide
Diwali 2026: what to watch with the family
17 Diwali 2026 picks for the family: what to see in theatres, what to stream with children, teenagers and grandparents, and what is free to watch.
Published Sun, 18 Oct, 2026 · Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November this year. We have grouped these picks by who you are watching with: a theatre outing for the festival weekend, films for children, picks for teenagers, classics for grandparents, and two that cost nothing. Every pick shows the certificate and runtime where an official source gives them, and links to a page with where it is playing in India and when we checked.
A note on certificates: U films suit all ages. U/A films carry an age (7+, 13+ or 16+) above which viewers can watch alone, and younger children should watch with a parent. Where a certificate has not been published, we say so rather than guess.
In theatres this Diwali
- 1
Ramayana: Part 1
In theatres from Thursday 5 November
The big festival outing. Nitesh Tiwari's adaptation of Valmiki's epic follows Rama, prince of Ayodhya, as he proves himself as a warrior and wins Sita's hand, before palace intrigue changes everything. It releases in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with IMAX shows. The CBFC certificate has not been published yet, so check it before booking for young children. Bookings for the opening weekend are likely to fill early.
- 2
Little Thomas
In theatres from 23 OctoberCBFC U/A 7+126 min
A children's film set in early-1990s Goa, where seven-year-old Thomas, an only child, badly wants a baby brother and sets out to get his bickering parents to make up. Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal play the parents. It is the gentlest theatre option this season and one of the few made with children in mind, but confirm the certificate at the box office before taking very young viewers.
- 3
Udta Teer
In theatres from 23 OctoberCBFC U/A 13+137 min
A spy comedy with Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan about a Pakistani agent who loses his memory mid-mission and comes to believe he is an Indian counter-terrorism officer. The makers bill it as political satire mixed with action, so it suits families with teenagers more than small children. The certificate has not been confirmed yet. It moved from 9 October to 23 October, so it is still fresh in theatres over Diwali.
With children
- 4
Dangal
NetflixCBFC U161 min
Rated U, so it suits every age in the room. Aamir Khan plays Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler who trains his daughters Geeta and Babita to compete in a sport men dominate. It is based on a true story, and the wrestling sequences hold the attention of younger viewers while the father-daughter story works for adults. At 2 hours 41 minutes it is long, so start early in the evening.
- 5
Sitaare Zameen Par
SonyLIV (reported, not yet confirmed in the app)CBFC U/A 13+158 min
Rated U/A 13+, so it suits children 13 and up, and younger ones with a parent. Aamir Khan plays a basketball coach sentenced to community service, coaching a team of adults with intellectual disabilities. It is funny and warm, and opens a natural conversation about inclusion. The story begins with a drink-driving case. Runs 2 hours 38 minutes. We have not yet confirmed it in the SonyLIV app.
- 6
The Legend of Hanuman (Season 7)
JioHotstar, from 23 OctoberCBFC U/A 13+
Animated mythology that fits the festival mood: as the battle for Lanka nears its end, Hanuman searches for a weapon that can defeat Ravan, voiced by Sharad Kelkar. It works well in the evening between puja and dinner. It is rated U/A 13+, so younger children should watch with a parent, and it helps to have seen earlier seasons.
- 7
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
Netflix (choose the Hindi Version)CBFC U/A171 min
A grand kingdom epic in Hindi, rated U/A. It picks up from Baahubali: The Beginning as Kattappa reveals the history of Mahishmati and the rivalry between Amarendra Baahubali and Bhallaladeva. Expect large battle scenes, so it suits older children watching with parents. On Netflix, pick the title marked 'Hindi Version'. Runs 2 hours 51 minutes; watching the first film beforehand helps.
With teenagers
- 8
Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank
Prime VideoCBFC U/A149 min
Rated U/A: a horror-comedy where a headless demon abducts the women of Chanderi and a group of small-town friends set out to stop him. The scares are played for laughs, which makes it a good group watch with teenagers who like a fright. Seeing the first Stree helps but is not essential. Runs 2 hours 29 minutes.
- 9
Laapataa Ladies
NetflixCBFC U/A124 min
Rated U/A and only about two hours long. Two newlywed brides in identical red veils are swapped on a crowded overnight train, and each ends up in the wrong husband's home. Kiran Rao's comedy is gentle and quick, with something to say about marriage and women's independence that gives teenagers and parents plenty to talk about afterwards. It touches on domestic abuse.
- 10
12th Fail
JioHotstar (reported, not yet confirmed in the app)146 min
A true story for any family with students. Manoj Kumar Sharma grows up in Chambal, fails Class 12 after an honest officer stops exam cheating, and sets out to clear the UPSC exam himself. It is an underdog story about honesty and persistence that lands especially with exam-age viewers. Runs about 2 hours 26 minutes. We have not yet confirmed it in the JioHotstar app.
- 11
Shershaah
Prime Video135 min
The life of Captain Vikram Batra, the Kargil War officer, told by his twin brother, with Sidharth Malhotra in the lead and Kiara Advani as Dimple Cheema. It combines a love story with combat scenes, so it suits teenagers and adults rather than young children. A good pick for families who like true stories of courage. Runs 2 hours 15 minutes.
- 12
F1
Apple TV (Hindi audio available)155 min
For motorsport fans: Brad Pitt plays a former Formula One driver who returns decades after a crash to help his old teammate's struggling team. The Apple TV India page lists Hindi audio, so the whole family can watch it in Hindi. The racing sequences make it a big-screen-at-home pick. Runs 2 hours 35 minutes.
With grandparents
- 13
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Netflix189 min
The romance three generations know by heart. Raj and Simran meet on a trip across Europe, but Simran's father has promised her to someone in Punjab, and Raj sets out to win her family's blessing rather than elope. Song-filled and gentle, it suits a long festival evening. Runs 3 hours 9 minutes, so plan an interval.
- 14
Mughal-e-Azam
ZEE5197 min
K. Asif's epic of Prince Salim's love for the court dancer Anarkali, and Emperor Akbar's opposition to it, with Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Prithviraj Kapoor. It is a classic many grandparents saw in theatres, and its songs make it a shared watch. Runs over three hours.
- 15
Sholay
Prime Video198 min
Jai and Veeru, two small-time crooks, are hired by a retired police officer to capture the dacoit Gabbar Singh. The dialogue is quoted across generations, which makes it fun to watch with grandparents. It includes violent scenes, including a family massacre, so it suits teenagers and adults rather than small children. Runs about 3 hours 18 minutes.
Free to watch
- 16
Andaz Apna Apna
Free with ads on Prime Video (MX Player channel)160 min
No subscription needed. Aamir Khan and Salman Khan play two small-town dreamers who both pose as suitors to a London millionaire's daughter to win her fortune. A light buddy comedy built on rivalry and mistaken identities that suits a relaxed family evening. It streams free with ads through the MX Player channel inside Prime Video. Runs 2 hours 40 minutes.
- 17
Nadiya Ke Paar
Free on Rajshri's YouTube channel143 min
A Rajshri family drama set in a village in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where a marriage between two households across a river shapes everyone's lives. Simple, musical and nostalgic, it is a natural pick for grandparents, and it is free and legal on Rajshri's own YouTube channel. Runs about 2 hours 23 minutes.
Updated Sun, 18 Oct, 2026