How To Watch The Horror Films In The Maddock Supernatural Universe In Order, Including 'Stree 2' And 'Bhediya' (2024)

Hollywood is home to numerous popular horror universes like The Conjuring and the Insidious franchise. Closer home, Bollywood is not far behind either. The Maddock Supernatural Universe has emerged as a compelling alternative as its horror comedy films infuse folklore into the fabric of Indian cinema.

It was created by Maddock Films’ Dinesh Vijan. The shared universe consists of Hindi-language supernatural horror comedies like Stree, Bhediya and Munjya, among others. These films not only performed well at the box office but also won over the critics who praised the interconnected storylines, compelling characters, cultural relevance and top-grade production.

It all started with Shraddha Kapoor and RajKummar Rao’s Stree in 2018. The film set a benchmark for the horror genre in Indian cinema as it unexpectedly took the box office by storm. The film successfully introduced Indian folklore into cinema, pairing it with splendid comedic timing and the unmistakable Bollywood flair.

The Maddock Supernatural Universe was off to a great start and arguably remained consistent over the years. Films like Bhediya, Munjya and Stree 2 did a phenomenal job of expanding the cinematic universe.

Dinesh Vijan is not yet done with the Maddock Supernatural Universe. There are multiple movies in the pipeline, which will be released to complete the horror universe’s sinister yet comical design. Apart from Bhediya 2, we will also see films like Thama, Munjya 2 and more.

There is still plenty of time before the full lineup drops. Consider this your cue to catch up on the Maddock Supernatural Universe and explore Bollywood’s horror-comedy saga.

Due to the interconnected storylines, references and cameos, it is best to savour the cinematic excellence to the fullest in the order it was produced.

Here’s how you can watch the expanding Maddock Supernatural Universe in chronological order. The list will also reveal how the films are connected along with the upcoming movies that will bind the universe in a web of eternal dread.

How to watch the horror films in the Maddock Supernatural Universe in chronological order

1. Stree (2018)

IMDb rating: 8
Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi and RajKummar Rao
Director: Amar Kaushik
Where to watch: Disney Plus Hotstar and YouTube

Set in the small town of Chanderi, the local legend of a vengeful female spirit “Stree” haunts residents at night. The local lore claims that she appears during the annual festival and abducts men, leaving only their clothes behind. Horrifying events unfold after a talented tailor named Vicky (RajKummar Rao) meets a strange woman (Shraddha Kapoor) and falls in love with her.

Along with his friends, Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) and Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana), Vicky teams up with a paranologist named Rudra (Pankaj Tripathi) to save Chanderi from Stree.

Stree unexpectedly emerged as one of the best horror movies in Bollywood of all time. The film offered a unique blend of dread and comedy that is seldom explored in Hindi cinemas. The clever writing by Niren Bhatt, which infused local folklore with sharp humour, made the movie a box office success and a favourite among critics.

Along with the fresh supernatural elements and quirky humour, Stree also excelled at delivering important social messages. The stellar cast’s performances added a layer of excellence and authenticity to the narration. The ending of the movie is, unarguably, the best part as it will leave you shell-shocked.

Stree earned over INR 180 crore against a modest budget of INR 20 crore due to its strong word-of-mouth promotion. The massive success kickstarted the expansion of the Maddock Supernatural Universe with interconnected stories and characters.

2. Bhediya (2022)

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IMDb rating: 6.7
Cast: Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon and Deepak Dobriyal
Director: Amar Kaushik
Where to watch: JioCinema

Set in the picturesque forests of Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, a money-minded businessman named Bhaskar (Varun Dhawan) arrives with plans to develop the village. However, he gets bitten by a mystical creature on a full moon night. Hell breaks loose in the village after he transforms into a werewolf. He teams up with a local veterinarian named Dr. Anika (Kriti Sanon) to find a cure.

Finally, the supernatural fictional girlies got an Indian werewolf to simp over. Bhediya blends folklore with modern-day themes and is a crucial addition to the Maddock Supernatural Universe. The film delves into the man versus beast trope while also exploring the themes of self-discovery.

Bhediya was lauded for its ambitious attempt at offering a creature feature in Bollywood. The makers made terrific use of visual effects to enhance the supernatural atmosphere in the film; especially the transformation sequences were truly a visual treat for the audience. The remarkable cinematography not only authentically captured the beauty of the forests of Arunachal Pradesh but also added a layer of mysticism.

Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon were also lauded for their performances.

But how does it connect to Stree? Remember Jana? He is Bhaskar’s cousin Janardhan. Also played by Banerjee, the character single-handedly shouldered the comic responsibility of the film with his impeccable comedic timing and animated expressions.

Although the film was critically acclaimed, it failed to attract the kind of crowd Stree pulled in. The film earned over INR 89 crores against a budget of INR 60 crores. However, fans have high expectations from Bhediya 2 which will be released in 2025.

The ending of Bhediya left the door wide open for exciting new storylines in the sequel. Fans have already discussed several potential theories and how the movie will contribute to the growing universe of Maddock horror films.

3. Munjya (2024)

IMDb rating: 7.2
Cast: Abhay Verma and Sharvari
Director: Aditya Sarpotdar

Set in the rural landscapes of Maharashtra, Munjya follows the story of a village man who inadvertently awakens a malevolent spirit. Bittu (Abhay Verma) and Bela (Sharvari) work together to defeat the spirit that unleashes horror on the village.

Like all the horror films in the Maddock Supernatural Universe, Munjya offers a refreshing blend of horror and comedy while capturing the essence of local folklore passed down from generation. The chemistry of the lead pair, who were seen together for the first time on the screen, added freshness to the engaging storyline.

The practical effects alongside CGI were highlights of the film. Munjya earned over INR 132 crore against a budget of INR 30 crores. Thanks to the clever marketing that helped the film tap into regional audiences, the movie became one of the top-grossing horror comedies of the year.

It is essential to watch Bhediya before immersing yourself in the word of Munjya. The mid-credits scene in the film offers several hints for Varun Dhawan’s Bhaskar in Bhediya 2.

4. Stree 2 (2024)

IMDb rating: 8
Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi and RajKummar Rao
Director: Amar Kaushik

It took over six years for the Maddock Supernatural Universe to come full circle with the release of the Shraddha Kapoor-starrer sequel. Stree 2 continues the story from the first film but dives deeper into the eerie legend of the vengeful female spirit.

Although Vicky (RajKummar Rao) was successful at saving the men of Chanderi last time, the people of the village still live in fear. This time, the curse seemed to have evolved as new, mysterious disappearances started haunting the village.

Vicky and his friends are compelled to uncover the hidden secrets of the origins of Stree’s wrath. They face new challenges as the movie introduces fresh characters and supernatural elements who have their own connections to the curse. Shraddha Kapoor returns as the mysterious and only character without a name.

Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee and Aparshakti Khurana also reprise their roles. Their noteworthy performances add soul to the movie as the audience remains torn between sitting on the edge of their seats and falling off them while laughing.

The anticipation of Stree 2 was reflected in its record-breaking box office numbers. The movie made history by raking in India’s highest opening day box office figures with INR 76.5 crores. The ending of Stree 2, peppered with mide-credit scenes featuring Akshay Kumar and Varun Dhawan established more intricate connections with the upcoming horror films in the Maddock Supernatural Universe.

Honourable mention

Roohi (2021)

IMDb rating: 4.3
Cast: RajKummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Sharma
Director: Hardik Mehta
Where to watch: Netflix

Set in a small town, Bhawra Pandey (RajKummar Rao) and Kattanni Qureshi (Varun Sharma) get tasked with kidnapping Roohi (Janhvi Kapoor) to get her married to gang leader Guniya Bhai (Manav Vij). However, they are forced to keep her hidden after the marriage is delayed. In a horrific twist of events, the duo finds out that Roohi is possessed by a vengeful spirit.

Roohi received mixed reviews from critics as well as from the audience. As it was the second film in the Maddock Supernatural Universe, many believed that the Janhvi Kapoor-starrer failed to live up to the hype created by Stree in 2018.

Although there was a signature blend of horror and humour, the film fell short of maintaining a good pace and cohesive narration. Nonetheless, the movie was praised for its attempt to balance traditional horror tropes with comedic elements. According to Box Office India, Roohi raked in INR 31 crores against a budget of INR 35 crores. It is the lowest-grossing movie among the Maddock horror films.

Roohi‘s inclusion in the Maddock Supernatural Universe is debatable. The movie is connected to the universe through its shared production banner and thematic elements. Moreover, the presence of Pankaj Tripathi in Roohi helps link the film to the established universe.

However, RajKummar Rao, who plays Vicky in the Stree franchise, is seen as Bhawra Pandey in Roohi. Hence, fans argue over Roohi‘s contribution to the Maddock Supernatural Universe and whether the characters from the movie would be revived or connected in the upcoming films.

(Header and feature image courtesy: Maddock Films/ Instagram)