Film

Oxygen

Other titles called Oxygen: the 2018 film, the 2020 film, the 2021 film.

Oxygen is a Telugu action thriller that begins as a romantic setup before pivoting into a high-stakes revenge narrative. It's a muscle-bound, energetic film that prioritizes spectacle and twists over nuance. Best for viewers who want to watch heroes punch their way through elaborate schemes without stopping to ask too many questions.

If you liked this

Mirchi2013

A Telugu action thriller with similar DNA: a charismatic lead, escalating stakes, stylish fight choreography, and a plot that pulls back the curtain on what seemed straightforward. It has the same swagger and confidence in its own absurdity.

But The melodrama and romantic subplots can feel uneven, and some of the logic doesn't survive close inspection. It asks you to go along with it.

Mirchi poster

Spyder2017

Released the same year as Oxygen, this Mahesh Babu thriller has comparable DNA: a hero with a secret mission, conspiracies that unravel layer by layer, and a driving sense of momentum. The action is similarly unrestrained and fun.

But The plot becomes convoluted by the midpoint, and the pacing can feel bloated despite genuine excitement. It's longer than it needs to be.

Spyder poster

Pelli SandaD2021

A romantic thriller that pulls a similar bait-and-switch: what looks like a wedding film becomes something darker. It has genuine surprises, better-crafted humor, and finds more character in its twists than many of its peers.

But It toes the line between satire and sincerity, which means it can feel tonal and uneven. Some viewers will find it too clever for its own good.

Pelli SandaD poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Oxygen

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Drishyam2013

Like Oxygen, it's about a man living with a secret and what he'll do to protect it—but where Oxygen is about avenging injustice, Drishyam is about reckoning with it.

Ajay Devgn plays a man who has to outsmart authorities after a tragic accident. It's a thriller about hidden intentions and layers of deception, but it's smart and morally complex rather than heroic. The real suspense comes from watching someone think their way through an impossible situation.

But There are no action sequences. It's dialogue-heavy and deliberately paced. If you need fights and chases, you'll find this slow.

Drishyam poster
More like this (5)

Jaguar2016

A Telugu thriller about a man working undercover in dangerous circles. It shares Oxygen's interest in heroes living double lives, with solid action and a plot that keeps moving. Naga Chaitanya is watchable and committed.

But The supporting cast doesn't get much to do, and the story can feel familiar if you've seen many thrillers. It's competent more than inspired.

Jaguar poster

Ek Tha Tiger2012

If you liked Oxygen's action sequences and the romance-that-isn't-what-it-seems angle, this Hindi thriller with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif delivers on scale and star power. It's confident action cinema designed to thrill.

But The romance gets uneven screen time, and the political thriller elements can feel underdeveloped. Some plot threads resolve too neatly.

Ek Tha Tiger poster

Race 22013

A Hindi action-thriller with a similar appetite for plot twists and reversals. It's deliberately stylish and doesn't take itself too seriously, leaning into the fun of watching people betray each other in increasingly elaborate ways.

But The tone is uneven—it can't decide if it's serious or camp. Some viewers will find that frustrating rather than entertaining.

Race 2 poster

Gentleman2016

A Telugu thriller with Arya that has comparable action beats and a hero playing a longer game than anyone realizes. It's professionally made and has moments of genuine tension, even if the overall construction is familiar.

But It leans heavily on a tired premise, and the twists don't surprise. You'll likely see where it's going well before it gets there.

Gentleman poster

Natsamrat2016

Both films are about men trying to hold onto identity and dignity when everything they believed about themselves turns out to be false or insufficient. Oxygen fights back; Natsamrat grieves.

A Marathi film with Medha Manjrekar about a man whose life unravels after retirement. It's quiet, human, and achingly sad. It takes the anxiety underneath a revenge narrative—the sense that everything has been stripped away—and makes it the whole story, treated with real dignity.

But It is absolutely not an action film. It is a study of aging, irrelevance, and existential despair. If you're looking for excitement, you will find only unhappiness.

Natsamrat poster

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