Netflix, JioHotstar, ZEE5 Drop Big Releases Sept 22-28: Alice in Borderland S3, Marvel Zombies, and More

September 22-28, 2025 isn’t just another week on the calendar—it’s a streaming warzone. From the eerie corridors of the Netflix Borderland to the dusty backroads of rural Chhattisgarh, viewers across India are being handed a buffet of new content so dense, even binge-watchers might need a weekend off. The biggest name? Alice in Borderland Season 3, dropping September 25. After two seasons of death games, coded puzzles, and Arisu’s relentless will to survive, this third chapter promises higher stakes, new players, and a chilling twist: what if the Borderland isn’t just a game… but a reflection of real-world collapse? Fans aren’t just waiting—they’re rewatching Season 2 in preparation.

The Indian Content Surge

While Netflix leads with three major premieres, JioHotstar is doubling down on regional storytelling. On September 24, Marvel Zombies arrives, blending superhero lore with zombie horror in a way that’s already trending on Twitter among Gen Z viewers. But the real surprise? Hridayapoorvam, a Malayalam-language film starring Mohanlal, Malavika Mohanan, and Sangeeth Pratap. Reviews call it “a warm hug in cinematic form”—a light-hearted family drama with punchy humor and genuine emotional beats. In a market saturated with revenge plots and gritty crime tales, this feels like a breath of fresh air.

Meanwhile, ZEE5 is going dark. Janaawar: The Beast Within, launching September 26, follows SI Hemant Kumar (played by Bhuvan Arora) as he investigates a string of headless bodies and vanished gold in Chhattisgarh. The case starts as missing persons—but soon spirals into something ancient, ritualistic, and terrifyingly local. It’s not just a crime thriller; it’s a cultural horror story rooted in tribal myths and forgotten superstitions. Critics are calling it “Andhadhun meets Monsters in the forests of Central India.”

Amazon, MX Player, and the Talk Show Wildcard

Amazon Prime Video isn’t chasing thrills this week—it’s chasing chemistry. Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle, premiering September 25, pairs Bollywood icons Kajol Devgn and Twinkle Khanna in an unscripted, intimate chat show. No scripts. No producers whispering cues. Just two women who’ve lived through fame, motherhood, and public scrutiny, talking about everything from their first film roles to how they handle online trolls. Early clips show Twinkle laughing so hard she cries—and Kajol admitting she still gets nervous before every interview. It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s exactly what audiences are craving after years of polished, PR-approved content.

On the same day, MX Player drops Sixer Season 2, the cricket-themed comedy-drama that became a surprise hit last year. This season takes viewers behind the scenes of a struggling IPL franchise, with new characters, betting scandals, and a rookie bowler who throws a no-ball on purpose to save his father’s life. The show’s creator, Anand Tiwari, told Screen Daily: “We didn’t want to glorify cricket. We wanted to show how it breaks people, too.”

The Global Players: Apple, Lionsgate, and the Bible on Screen

It’s not just India. Global content is flooding in. The Savant on Apple TV+ stars Jessica Chastain as Jodi Goodwin, a former FBI profiler who goes undercover in online hate forums. Based on true events, the series reveals how algorithms amplify extremism—and how one woman’s empathy becomes her most dangerous weapon. Meanwhile, Lionsgate Play brings Dangerous Animals, a shark-obsessed serial killer thriller starring Jai Courtney. Think Jaws meets Se7en—but with a twist: the killer doesn’t just kill. He leaves shark teeth at each scene, claiming he’s “cleaning the ocean.”

And then there’s Ruth & Boaz on Netflix—a modern retelling of the biblical love story, set in rural Tennessee. Starring Serayah, Tyler Lepley, and Phylicia Rashad, it’s not a sermon. It’s a story about class, race, and quiet courage. One scene, where Ruth walks barefoot through a cotton field while Boaz watches from his porch, has already gone viral. “It’s the most beautiful love story I’ve seen in years,” wrote a viewer on Reddit. “And it didn’t need a single line of dialogue.”

Why This Week Matters

This isn’t just a content dump. It’s a strategic pivot. After years of chasing Hollywood-style blockbusters, Indian OTT platforms are finally betting on local voices, regional languages, and culturally specific narratives. JioHotstar’s push for Malayalam cinema. ZEE5’s rural crime saga. Amazon’s unfiltered celebrity conversations. These aren’t random picks—they’re signals. The audience doesn’t want more of the same. They want truth. Texture. Identity.

And the numbers back it up. In August, regional language content on Indian OTT platforms saw a 42% increase in watch time compared to July, according to a report by Counterpoint Research. Meanwhile, viewers aged 18–34 spent 37% more time on platforms offering original Indian series than those relying solely on imported content.

Next week? DNA, the Tamil crime thriller, hits ZEE5 after its theatrical run. The pattern is clear: films are no longer just for theaters. They’re becoming digital events. And the winners? The platforms that understand that in India, entertainment isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s 22 languages, 29 states, and a thousand different stories waiting to be told.