Movies like Makkal Kaavalan: 20 to watch next

If you loved Makkal Kaavalan (2026) — a action, crime and drama film directed by Santhosh Kumar — these 20 movies are the closest matches.

The first picks are what fans of Makkal Kaavalan most often go on to watch; the rest share its genres and themes like police, protest and police officer. 9 of them are streaming in India right now — each entry shows where.

Where to watch Makkal Kaavalan →·Get picks for your whole taste →

1
The Enforcer 2022★ 7.0
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
A noir thriller set in Miami, the film follows an enforcer who discovers his femme fatale boss has branched out into cyber sex trafficking, putting a young runaway he’s befriended at risk. He sacrifices everything to save the young girl from the deadly organization he’s spent his life building.
Stream in India on Amazon Prime Video, VI movies and tv, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
2
Vettaiyan 2024★ 6.1
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
A sought-after Supercop gets caught in a series of unexpected events when he encounters a suspect who is accused of being involved in a murder case.
Stream in India on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon MX Player
3
Black Site 2022★ 6.0
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
A group of officers based in a labyrinthine top-secret prison must fight for their lives against Hatchet, a brilliant and infamous high-value detainee. When he escapes, his mysterious and deadly agenda has far reaching and dire consequences.
Stream in India on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, JioHotstar
4
No Man's Land 1987★ 6.0
Shares: Action, Drama, Crime
A rookie cop goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of car thieves led by smooth and charming Ted. The rookie becomes too involved and starts to enjoy the thrill and lifestyle of the game, and becomes romanticly involved with the leaders sister.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
5
Silverton Siege 2022★ 6.3
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
After a failed sabotage mission, a trio of anti-apartheid freedom fighters ends up in a tense bank hostage situation. Based on a true story.
Stream in India on Netflix
6
The Blue Lamp 1950★ 6.6
Shares: Crime, Action
P.C. George Dixon is a long-serving traditional copper who is due to retire shortly. He takes a new recruit under his aegis and introduces him to the easy-going night beat. Dixon is a classic ordinary hero but also anachronistic, unprepared and unable to answer the violence of the 1950s.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
7
Kaithi 2019★ 7.6
Shares: Action, Crime
Dilli, a convicted criminal, is out on parole to meet his daughter. However, a drug bust sets him off on a mission to save the life of police officers.
Stream in India on VI movies and tv, JioHotstar, MX Player
8
Theri 2016★ 6.8
Shares: Action, Crime
When an honest cop, Vijay Kumar's family is ruthlessly slaughtered by a politician and his aides, he decides to change his identity and commits his life to bring his daughter up in a serene atmosphere. But some freak events end up compromising his identity and what he does to save his daughter and avenge the death of his family unfurls as Theri.
Stream in India on Amazon Prime Video, Sun Nxt, VI movies and tv
9
El padrino: The Latin Godfather 2004★ 7.2
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
In the streets of East Los Angeles, Manny is a formidable drug dealer. Impressed by his extravagant lifestyle and prowess, his young son, Kilo, yearns to follow in his footsteps. Kilo resolves to learn how to prosper in the drug world, and his new life as a dealer begins. In a world where a man wants everything, he may end up with nothing.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
10
Until Death 2007★ 5.9
Shares: Action, Crime
Anthony Stowe is a dirty cop who is hooked on heroin—and everyone hates him. After a serious accident, he is placed into an induced coma, but emerges from it a better person who wants to put things right.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
11
The Island 2023★ 6.3
Shares: Action, Crime
When his brother is killed, LAPD officer Mark leaves the city to return to the island he grew up on. Seeking answers and ultimately vengeance, he soon finds himself in a bloody battle with the corrupt tycoon who's taken over the island paradise.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
12
The Killer 2024★ 6.2
Shares: Action, Crime
Zee is a feared contract killer known as "the Queen of the Dead," but when she refuses to murder a young blind woman, she finds herself hunted both by criminal colleagues and a determined police detective.
Stream in India on VI movies and tv
13
The Double 2011★ 5.8
Shares: Action, Drama, Crime
The mysterious murder of a US senator bearing the distinctive trademark of the legendary Soviet assassin 'Cassius', forces retired CIA operative, Paul Shepherson to team with rookie FBI agent, Ben Geary to solve the crime. Having spent his career chasing Cassius, Shepherdson is convinced his nemesis is long dead, but is pushed to take on the case by his former supervisor, Tom Highland. Geary, who wrote his Master's thesis on Shepherdson's pursuit of the Soviet killer, is certain that Cassius has resurfaced.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
14
The International 2009★ 6.3
Shares: Action, Crime
An interpol agent and an attorney are determined to bring one of the world's most powerful banks to justice. Uncovering money laundering, arms trading, and conspiracy to destabilize world governments, their investigation takes them from Berlin, Milan, New York and Istanbul. Finding themselves in a chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
15
Kaala 2018★ 6.4
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
Karikaalan consistently fights to keep the people of Dharavi, a slum in Mumbai, safe from the clutches of mighty politicians and the land mafia don, Hari Dhadha.
Stream in India on Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, VI movies and tv
16
Oscar Shaw 2026★ 6.6
Shares: Action, Crime
After retiring from the police force, a relentless detective haunted by the tragic loss of his closest friend sets out on a perilous quest for vengeance, seeking redemption and fighting to restore justice to the streets he once swore to protect.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
17
Exit Wounds 2001★ 5.9
Shares: Action, Crime
Maverick cop Orin Boyd always brings down the domestic terrorists he tracks, but he ruffles feathers with his unorthodox techniques -- and soon finds himself reassigned to the toughest district in Detroit. When he discovers a group of detectives secretly operating a drug ring, Boyd joins forces with an unlikely ally -- gangster Latrell Walker -- to bring down the rotten cops.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
18
Trouble Man 1972★ 6.3
Shares: Crime, Action, Drama
It seems that masked men are knocking over the floating crap games of Chalky and Pete. Chalky and Pete hire the cool, loose, elegant Mr. T to fix things. Then, the masked manipulators set up the death of a collector for a rival gang lord. It looks like it's up to T to hold a gang war from breaking out, keep the police off his back, and earn his fee from Chalky and Pete.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
19
The Organization 1971★ 6.2
Shares: Drama, Action, Crime
After a group of young revolutionaries break into a company's corporate headquarters and steal $5,000,000 worth of heroin to keep it off the street, they call on San Francisco Police Lieutenant Virgil Tibbs for assistance.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
20
Fort Apache, the Bronx 1981★ 6.5
Shares: Crime, Drama, Action
From the sight of a police officer this movie depicts the life in New York's infamous South Bronx. In the center is "Fort Apache", as the officers call their police station, which really seems like an outpost in enemy's country. The story follows officer Murphy, who seems to be a tough cynic, but in truth he's a moralist with a sense for justice.
Stream in India on JioHotstar