As Thamma releases, ranking all movies in Maddock Horror Comedy Universe: From Stree to Bhediya and Munjya

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Stree (2018) — The benchmark of Bollywood horror-comedy

It all began with Stree, and truth be told, Maddock’s horror comedy universe hasn’t quite topped it since. A perfect blend of satire, spook, and small-town realism, Stree remains the gold standard for horror comedies in India. Rajkummar Rao’s simplicity, Shraddha Kapoor’s mystery, and Pankaj Tripathi’s impeccable comic timing made it a cultural phenomenon. Its sharp writing, social subtext, and humour turned it into more than just a film — it became a moment in pop culture.

Rating: 4.5/5

Stree 2 (2024) — A worthy successor

After years of anticipation, Stree 2 brought back the eerie charm of the original. While it doesn’t quite recapture the freshness of the first film, it succeeds in building emotional depth and narrative continuity. Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Banerjee, and Pankaj Tripathi once again hold the fort with their chemistry and humour, while the writing keeps the spirit of the universe intact. However, the second half—especially the climax—feels a bit stretched and somewhat forced, as if trying too hard to tie every loose end and emphasise that all films in Dinesh Vijan’s horror comedy universe are interconnected, particularly with Varun Dhawan’s sudden arrival.

Rating: 3.5/5

Roohi (2021) — Funny in parts, fumbles overall

Roohi was Maddock’s first attempt at expanding the universe after Stree. The film had potential — a ghost who kidnaps brides — but the execution wavered. The first half, powered by Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma’s comic timing, is genuinely entertaining, but the second half loses steam. Janhvi Kapoor delivers a sincere performance, but inconsistent writing keeps the film from soaring.

Rating: 3/5

Bhediya (2022) — A howl that could’ve been louder

Varun Dhawan as werewolf in Bhediya. (Photo: IMDb)

Bhediya was bold — India’s first werewolf story rooted in Arunachal folklore. The visuals and VFX were stellar, and Abhishek Banerjee once again stole the show with his effortless humour. However, pacing issues and tonal imbalance prevented it from becoming truly great. Still, it deserves credit for its ambition and originality within the horror-comedy framework.

Rating: 2.5/5

Munjya (2024) — The weakest link

Abhay Verma and Sharvari Wagh in Munjya. (Photo: IMDb)

Munjya tried to expand Maddock’s supernatural world using Marathi folklore, but the result was underwhelming. The CGI-heavy ghost and uneven humour made it one of the weakest links in the chain. Despite Abhishek Banerjee’s entertaining cameo that tied it back to the Stree universe, Munjya felt more like a filler film than a vital chapter in the saga.

Rating: 2/5

Looking ahead: Will Thamma revive Maddock’s magic?

Now, with Thamma — a vampire-based story releasing tomorrow, October 21 — Dinesh Vijan’s horror comedy universe is venturing into darker, bloodier territory. Early buzz hints at a mix of gothic aesthetics, quirky humour, and a fresh mythological twist on vampires.

Whether Thamma can resurrect the sharp storytelling and humour that made Stree iconic remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: Dinesh Vijan’s horror comedy universe continues to be Bollywood’s boldest attempt at building a connected supernatural world — equal parts fear, folklore, and fun. Something that Dulquer Salmaan has now attempted with his Lokah universe.