Top 5 Bollywood, Hollywood movies to watch like Brad Pitt's F1 and Kajol's horror film 'Maa' this holiday weekend

Dubai: Whether you’re in the mood for a turbo-charged Brad Pitt on the F1 track, a brooding cop with a bad attitude, or a mother-turned-goddess facing down demonic forces — we’ve lined up the best of what’s streaming and screening. From pulse-pounding thrillers to grounded village dramas, here’s your curated binge list for when you want to escape the heat, the noise, and possibly your family.

So grab your popcorn and dive into these top picks across UAE cinemas and streaming platforms.

F1 (UAE cinemas):

Start your engines, because F1 is the slick, turbocharged thrill ride we didn’t know we needed — and yes, Abu Dhabi plays a starring role and looks flawless doing it. Directed by Top Gun: Maverick's Joseph Kosinski, this film swaps fighter jets for Formula One cars and somehow makes the track even sexier. Brad Pitt is in full silver fox mode as Sonny Hayes, a racing veteran with grease under his nails and zero patience for PR fluff. Damson Idris brings the heat as the rookie he's roped in to mentor, while Kerry Condon steals scenes with pure no-nonsense brilliance. Shot partly in the UAE’s Yas Marina Circuit, the race scenes are pulse-pounding perfection — thank cinematographer Claudio Miranda and Hans Zimmer’s high-octane score for that. Sure, some dialogue runs on fumes, but when F1 is flying at full throttle, it’s a glossy, glorious spectacle. Buckle up — this one’s a winner.

Dept Q (Netflix)

If you're into brooding cops with a flair for sarcasm and a hate-hate relationship with life, Dept Q  is your next obsession. Set in the rainy, moody streets of Edinburgh, this gritty drama follows a brilliant but borderline miserable cop who lands the gig of leading a new cold case unit — and trust me, he's not thrilled about it. Think House M.D., but swap the stethoscope for handcuffs and throw in murder, secrets, and more emotional baggage than Mumbai Terminal. He’s acerbic, sharp as a tack, and utterly magnetic, even when he’s being a pain. The series keeps you hooked with cleverly plotted cold cases that slowly unravel, and a ragtag team of misfits you’ll actually start rooting for. The writing is tight, the tension is real, and the drama never lets up. If you like your crime shows smart, stylish, and just the right amount of dark — Dept Q delivers.

Maa (UAE cinemas)

Kajol delivers a powerhouse performance in MAA, a supernatural thriller directed by Vishal Furia (Chhorii, Shaitaan). Known for weaving horror with emotional depth, Furia brings his signature eerie tension to this ominous tale of motherhood pushed to the edge. Kajol plays a devoted mother whose world unravels when a demonic curse threatens her daughter’s life. What begins as quiet dread quickly spirals into a gripping descent, as she transforms into a modern-day force— fierce, vengeful, and unstoppable. The film is drenched in atmosphere, blending Indian mythology with psychological horror, and tapping into the primal terror of losing a child. Kajol is magnetic throughout — vulnerable one moment, terrifying the next — anchoring the film with intensity and grace. MAA is not just about good versus evil; it’s about how far a mother will go when fear, blood, and betrayal stand in her way. It’s chilling, emotional, and could be worth every dirham.

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Ronth (UAE cinemas):

Ronth is a Malayalam cop drama that doesn’t just grip you — it guts you. Directed by Shahi Kabir, this stark, no-frills procedural stars Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Mathew as two mismatched cops on night patrol, navigating domestic violence cases, mental health crises, and their own buried trauma. Forget the stylised swagger of mainstream thrillers — Ronth strips it all down to exhaustion, monotony, and moral ambiguity. Shot mostly inside a patrol jeep, the film is intimate, raw, and relentlessly bleak. Roshan’s monologue about his father’s suicide and Dileesh’s quiet unraveling after personal loss are devastating. Add to that Manesh Madhavan’s haunting cinematography and razor-sharp editing by Dubai-based Praveen Mangalath, and you’ve got a film that leaves you reeling. Ronth doesn’t offer neat resolutions — it confronts you with the greyness of justice and survival. This is one of the most honest, unvarnished portrayals of policing — and masculinity — you’ll see all year.

Panchayat (Amazon Prime Video)

If you’re craving a slice of rural Indian life — full of simple people, chaotic politics, and moments that make you laugh and ache at once — Panchayat Season 4 delivers. Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, this beloved series returns to Phulera, where the humble lauki becomes a political weapon as Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) faces off against Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), who, fittingly, chooses the pressure cooker. The stakes are higher, the rivalries sharper, and the idyllic charm? Starting to crack under pressure. What began as a heartwarming tale of reluctant sachivji Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) trying to adjust to village life has now evolved into a deeper, more layered story about power, loyalty, and survival. The show remains rich in local flavour, sharp humour, and quiet commentary on real India. And while some moments feel a tad overcooked, Panchayat still serves up a grounded, authentic, and utterly watchable feast.