Friday OTT Releases (April 18, 2025): 7 New Movies and Shows on Netflix, ZEE5, Amazon Prime Video and More
As the weekend inches closer, entertainment enthusiasts can look forward to a fresh lineup of movies and shows hitting the OTT platforms this Friday, April 18, 2025. From spine-chilling horror and riveting thrillers to emotionally packed dramas and real-life documentaries, there’s something for everyone in this week’s digital drop.
Streaming giants like Netflix, ZEE5, and Amazon Prime Video are all set to premiere new content, offering a mix of regional and international stories. In addition, theatres are buzzing with anticipation as big-ticket films like Kesari Chapter 2 and Sinners gear up for their box office debuts.
Here’s your ultimate guide to the 7 new OTT releases and theatrical debuts this Friday:
1. Daveed (ZEE5) – A Gritty Tale of Redemption and Glory
ZEE5 continues to push boundaries with regional storytelling, and Daveed, a Malayalam-language sports drama, is a shining example. Directed by Sajid Yahiya, this action-packed film follows Ashiq Abu (Antony Varghese), a once-celebrated boxer whose glory days are far behind him. Now working as a security guard, Ashiq’s routine life takes a drastic turn when he is assigned to protect Sainul Akhmadov (Mo Ismail), a Turkish boxing champion visiting India under mysterious circumstances.
As Ashiq becomes entangled in Sainul’s dangerous world, he must confront his own inner demons, fighting for redemption and perhaps a second shot at the ring. Daveed is as much a sports film as it is a psychological exploration of failure, trauma, and the fire to rise again.
📺 Where to Watch: ZEE5
🎬 Genre: Sports Drama, Action
🗣️ Language: Malayalam (with subtitles)
2. iHostage (Netflix) – A Real-Life Inspired Dutch Thriller
Based on a chilling real-life incident that unfolded in Amsterdam’s Apple Store, iHostage is an intense Dutch thriller that brings viewers face-to-face with a modern-day hostage crisis. The plot kicks off when a lone gunman storms the tech giant’s flagship store and takes a customer hostage at gunpoint, triggering a standoff that captures global media attention.
As law enforcement negotiates with the perpetrator, dark truths surface about motivations, surveillance, and the psychology of control. The tension builds steadily in this tight, 90-minute film that showcases both the fragility and resilience of the human psyche under duress.
📺 Where to Watch: Netflix
🎬 Genre: Thriller, Crime Drama
🌍 Language: Dutch (with subtitles)
3. Logout (ZEE5) – The Perils of the Digital Age
Starring Babil Khan and Rasika Dugal, Logout dives deep into the dangerous realities of living in the social media spotlight. Khan plays Aryan, a popular digital influencer with over 10 million followers. His seemingly perfect world collapses when he loses his phone—only to find his digital identity hijacked by an obsessed fan.
The narrative evolves into a psychological thriller as Aryan’s online and offline lives blur, raising pressing questions about fame, vulnerability, and identity theft in the digital age. Rasika Dugal adds emotional depth to the story as Aryan’s confidante trying to help him reclaim control.
📺 Where to Watch: ZEE5
🎬 Genre: Tech Thriller, Drama
📱 Theme: Social Media, Identity Crisis
4. Khauf (Amazon Prime Video) – Horror in the Heart of Delhi
Prime Video is back with a terrifying original titled Khauf, a supernatural horror series set in the shadowy corridors of a women’s hostel in Delhi. Across eight episodes, the show explores the eerie journey of Madhu (Monika Panwar)—a young woman who moves into the hostel to escape her troubled past. However, peace eludes her as she becomes the target of a sinister spirit lurking in Room 204.
The series boasts an ensemble cast including Rajat Kapoor, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Shilpa Shukla, Chum Darang, and Abhishek Chauhan, each of whom adds complexity to the twisted narrative. With escalating terror and psychological suspense, Khauf is a must-watch for horror fans.
📺 Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
🎬 Genre: Horror, Supernatural Drama
🕯️ Episodes: 8
5. Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror (Netflix) – A Chilling Documentary
In a sobering reflection on domestic terrorism, Netflix presents Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror, a documentary revisiting the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Considered one of the most devastating acts of homegrown terror in American history, the incident claimed 168 lives and shook the nation to its core.
The film draws on interviews with survivors, journalists, and investigators, using archival footage to uncover the ideology and planning behind the attack. This documentary doesn’t just tell the story—it challenges viewers to confront the rise of extremism and the fragility of public security.
📺 Where to Watch: Netflix
🎬 Genre: Documentary, True Crime
🇺🇸 Theme: Domestic Terrorism, American History
6. Kesari Chapter 2 (In Theatres) – A Historical Saga of Resistance
Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan reunite for the much-anticipated Kesari Chapter 2, a historical drama directed by Anil Sharma. The story follows C. Sankaran Nair, a prominent lawyer and President of the Indian National Congress, as he leads a courtroom battle against British tyranny following the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Based on the book The Case That Shook The Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, the film shines a light on legal activism during colonial rule. Ananya Panday stars as Nair’s wife, bringing emotional nuance to the intense courtroom drama.
🎥 Where to Watch: In Theatres
🎬 Genre: Historical Drama, Biographical
🇮🇳 Setting: Colonial India
7. Sinners (In Theatres) – A Supernatural Tale of Brotherhood
Helmed by indie-horror director James Blackford, Sinners is a supernatural thriller with a dark twist. The film stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as estranged twin brothers who return to their cursed hometown seeking redemption. What begins as a journey to start afresh quickly unravels into a sinister tale as supernatural forces resurface.
With an ensemble cast featuring Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, and Miles Caton, Sinners blends folklore, religious undertones, and psychological horror to deliver a cinematic experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
🎥 Where to Watch: In Theatres
🎬 Genre: Horror, Supernatural Thriller
👻 Highlight: Dual role by Michael B. Jordan
🧾 Final Thoughts: What to Watch First?
If you’re in the mood for spine-chilling horror, Khauf on Prime Video should top your list. For fans of real-life suspense and social commentary, iHostage and Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror offer gripping narratives. Meanwhile, cinephiles craving action and historical drama won’t want to miss Kesari Chapter 2 and Daveed.
Whichever genre you prefer, April 18, 2025, promises to be an exciting day for streaming lovers and movie buffs alike. Grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and dive into a weekend of immersive storytelling.
Image Source: Image by macrovector on Freepik
