Top ten Hollywood and Bollywood movies and shows to watch this weekend including Mammootty's horror fantasy 'Bramayugam'

Wondering what to watch in the cinemas this week or the series that you must give your time to during your down-time? Sweat not - we have you covered. We have done the leg work for you as we put together a list of mostly new shows and films that will make you weekend exciting.

Bob Marley: One Love (UAE cinemas): Curious about the face of reggae and ultimately Jamaica? Then you have reached the right spot. ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ chronicles the legendary musician’s life with aplomb. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the movie aims to capture the essence of Marley and his eventful and complex life. British actor Ben Kingsley-Adir of ‘One Night in Miami…’ and ‘Barbie’ fame steps into the large shoes of the charismatic Marley. He succeeds to a large extent.

One Day (Netflix): Before you embark on watching this absolutely heart-breaking series, keep your tissues handy. Based on David Nicholls’ best-selling 2009 novel ‘One Day’, the series explores the tumultuous bond between Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) for over the course of a decade. They meet first on the night of their college graduation in Edinburgh and sparks fly, but they soon friend-zone each other, only to change that status after some time. The adage of opposites attract rings scarily for this pair. If Dexter is the quintessential rakish playboy who can get away with the proverbial murder, Emma is his best friend who over-thinks and isn’t as privileged as her friend. A botched one-night stand between them gives rise to one of the most lasting bond of their lives. Did I tell you that their accent is also mighty cute? Perfectly timed to release during the Valentine’s Day month, ‘One Day’ is a keeper. I dare you not to cry as you watch their relationship evolve with time. Woodall and Mod have such incredible chemistry that you can’t help root for them.

Manjummel Boys (UAE cinemas): This Malayalam-language survival thriller, directed and written by Chidambaram of ‘Janeman’ fame, takes you into the world of six thick friends from Kottayam and their annual vacation to Kodaikanal. These band of boys from Kottayam – who have grown up together -- decide to try their hand at exploring a restricted spot called Guna Cave. But their fun adventure, meant to be their seize-the-moment jaunt, doesn’t go as planned and slides towards a murkier and sinister territory. Starring the incredibly talented Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, and Balu Varghese, this film on their misadventures is high on suspense and thrills. The cinematography is also compelling. Watch this if you are in the mood for an atmospheric Malayalam movie that draws heavily on good writing, plot twists, and solid acting.

House Of Gods (OSN +): Premiering on February 25, ‘House Of Gods’ revolves around the lives of an ambitious Iraqi Australian family who were placed into a world of power, politics, and privilege when their charismatic patriarch became the head cleric of their local mosque. The series is compelling and explores the intricacies of newfound authority within the family and the broader community. Family dynamics that bring to light secrets and lies spices up this drama.

Premalu (UAE cinemas): This Malayalam romantic comedy is a sweet, feel-good comedy about a bunch of twenty-somethings navigating their early twenties, discovering love, lust, and life in the process. Starring a motely of rising stars like Naslen, Mamitha Baiju, Shyam Mohan, Sangeeth Prathap, and Akhila Bhargavan, this film is giving a stiff competition to other UAE releases.

Crakk Jeetega … Toh Jeeyega (UAE cinemas): This one is strictly for Vidyut Jammwal fans who takes immense pride in doing in his own stunts with impressive agility. It’s the battle of the brawn with actor Arjun Rampal playing the antagonist. The movie opens with slum-dweller Siddharth Dixit, aka Siddhu (Jammwal), who gets his adrenaline from trying out dangerous stunts on a moving train. His love for potentially fatal stunts intensify and he becomes a part of an underground fighting club. If you are andrenaline-junkie and love watching Jammwal flex his buffed muscles, then this one might hit your sweet spot. But if you are looking for a solid script, then you are going to only be met with his solid washboard abs.

Bramayugam (UAE cinemas): This is a compelling fantasy horror film starring Mammootty, Arjun Ashok and Sidharth Bharathan. ‘Bramayugam’, which means The Age Of Madness, is a black-and-white feature set in the 17th century Malabar where a runaway Thevan, who escapes from the clutches of slave trade, ends up in an abandoned mansion. Kodumon Potti, the lord of that dilapidated manor, takes him in but he’s not as generous as he initially appears. Things take a sinister and murky turn as Thevan finds it impossible to leave the clutches of this ageing boss. Apart from arresting performances from the talented trio, the movie is rich in imagery, folklore, mythology, and background score. When it comes to creating this dark and foreboding atmosphere, Bramayugam scores high. Be warned, the pace is languid and is a slow-burn horror.

Madame Web (UAE cinemas): The reviews have been harsh, but if you are in the mood for a movie that’s so sad, but good then perhaps this star-studded fantasy film may be up your street. The movie tells the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing's most enigmatic heroines. The suspense-driven thriller stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in Manhattan who may have clairvoyant abilities. She joins hands with two other women to fight a deadly present.

Poacher (Amazon Prime Video): This is a well-crafted series written and directed by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Richie Mehta and takes you into the world of poaching in Kerala’s wildlife. The good fight is embarked upon by a bunch of scrupulous forest rangers who wage a war against the determined elephant poachers. Starring the stupendously talented Nimisha Sajayan and Divyendu Sharma, this eight-episode series is highly watchable and approaches the complex issue with absolute restraint.

Three (UAE cinemas): Are you in the mood for an atmospheric horror film? Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja’s horror film, chronicling the life of 13-year-old Ahmed — played efficiently by Emirati actor Saud Alzarooni — who suddenly begins acting strange, prompting his desperate mother Maryam (an on-point Faten Ahmed) to seek help from a Western doctor and traditional exorcists, is now playing in UAE cinemas. The push and pull in a mother who’s willing to try traditional and modern methods to save her son from his own inner demons, the helplessness that a family experiences are tapped into. Al Khaja explores such complex themes, including mental health, superstition, helplessness, and the battle between Western medicine and cultural beliefs with a deft hand. Now in its third week of theatrical release in the UAE, this could be your chance to see a well-made, slow-burn feature.