Everyone assumed Shah Rukh Khan’s return in King would sit right at the top of 2026’s most anticipated list. Instead, IMDb’s rankings tell a different story, and it’s real-life couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt whose films are leading the pack. The two have their names on some of the biggest films of the year – a mythological epic, a female-led spy thriller and a film about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romance, all have their names. Well, the list actually came out this way and here’s why King fell down the list.
Ramayana Part 1 Takes the Top Spot
The upcoming Ramayana: Part 1, helmed by Nitesh Tiwari and in the lead with Ranbir Kapoor, is No.1 on IMDb’s most awaited Indian movies list. The first will be about Ram’s exile and the abduction of Sita and it’s looking to be a Diwali 2026 release on an unprecedented scale.
Alia Bhatt’s Alpha Lands at No.2
Alpha is the first female-led film in the Yash Raj Films Spy Universe, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. Directed by Shiv Rawail and produced by Aditya Chopra, this action thriller has generated significant buzz, with Hrithik Roshan expected to make a special appearance.
King Only Manages Fourth Place
Though there were a lot of things people were talking about Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback, King still made it to No.4 on the list. The film, helmed by Siddharth Anand and believed to be inspired from French film Léon: The Professional, stars SRK as an experienced assassin guarding a young girl, who is played by his daughter Suhana Khan, making her film debut.
A Real-Life Couple Dominating the Rankings
What makes the list striking is that married couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt hold two of the top spots between them. It’s a notable changing-of-the-guard moment, with a younger star pair edging ahead of one of the biggest names Hindi cinema has ever produced, at least in terms of pure anticipation.
Love & War Adds to Their Slate
The couple’s 2026 slate includes Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, featuring Ranbir and Alia with Vicky Kaushal in a wartime love triangle. This film diverges from Bhansali’s typical period dramas, adding another high-profile title to their busy year.
Yash’s Toxic Rounds Out the Top Three
Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is starring Kannada superstar Yash and will be released at No.3 between Alpha and King. One of the most anticipated film releases of the year across the country, it is set in India’s Goa and has an element of the drug-cartel.
The Rest of the Top 10
Drishyam 3 at sixth place and Ajay Devgn’s Dhamaal 4 at fifth position. Now, Vishwanath & Sons is at number 7 followed by Mirzapur: The Movie and Haiwaan at number 8 and 9 respectively, followed by Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha at number 10. It’s a cast of franchises, sequels and much-anticipated returns.
A List That Spans Five Languages
The IMDb ratings show the true extent of the pan-Indian nature of the modern box office – it’s across five languages after all, with twelve Hindi movies, four Tamil, two Malayalam, one Telugu and one Kannada. These days are over when we’re talking about a single industry dominating all the conversations.
Why Anticipation Doesn’t Always Equal Box Office
It’s worth remembering that a most-anticipated ranking measures buzz, not final ticket sales. King’s Christmas release could easily outgross films placed above it once these movies actually reach theaters. Anticipation and box office are two very different races, and the second one hasn’t started yet.
A Packed Year Ahead for Indian Cinema
Taken together, the list points to one of the most crowded and ambitious years Indian cinema has seen in a while. Whether Ranbir and Alia’s trio of titles lives up to the hype or King roars back to reclaim the crown, 2026 is shaping up to be a genuinely unpredictable year at the box office.
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