The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has released a special report celebrating 25 years of Indian cinema since 2000, spotlighting the films, stars, and trends that shaped the industry from 2000 to 2025.

One of the report’s most striking findings is the rise of true Indian “crossover” films — movies that connect not only with the Indian diaspora but also mainstream global audiences. At the very top of this wave stands Rajkumar Hirani’s 2009 classic 3 Idiots, starring Aamir Khan.

According to IMDb, 3 Idiots achieved a perfect 100 on its global popularity index, making it the most popular Indian film of the 21st century. It also continues to be the highest-ranked Indian film on IMDb’s prestigious Top 250 list. Remarkably, over 80% of its page views come from outside India — a feat few Indian films have matched.

While films like Taare Zameen Par, My Name is Khan, Monsoon Wedding, and The Lunchbox also found global recognition, none crossed the 60-mark on the same index. Even mega-hits like Dangal, PK, and RRR could not rival the universal resonance of 3 Idiots.

“Few movies truly deserve the title of crossover hits, and this space is dominated by Aamir Khan films,” IMDb noted in the report. “His storytelling continues to prove how deeply Indian narratives can connect with audiences everywhere.”

The film’s impact was particularly profound in China, where it became a cultural phenomenon and was even included in university coursework as a stress-relief study tool.

Featuring a star cast of Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, Omi Vaidya, and Mona Singh, 3 Idiots broke box office records upon release, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of all time — a record it held until Dhoom 3 surpassed it in 2013.

Nearly two decades later, 3 Idiots continues to stand tall as the Indian film that truly went global, proving the timeless power of emotionally universal yet culturally rooted storytelling.