The film is a spinoff of the 2019 film Mikhael. Though both films are not directly connected with each other, this film only has some of the characters from Mikhael in a different setting.[6]
Victor, a blind person, witnesses the murder of his close friend Wasim. Despite his blindness, Victor identifies the killer by recognising the distinct scent of the killer's perfume and the Defender car he used. Victor's identification leads the cops to uncover that the killer is Russell, who conspired with Wasim's elder brother Tariq, to carry out the murder. Tragically, Victor gets captured by Russell, who throws him into a vat of hydrofluoric acid, resulting in his agonizing death. Victor's brother George Peter, the patriarch of the Adattu crime family, is devastated by the loss. Marco Junior, Peter's adopted brother who had been sent to Italy for safety, returns after learning about Victor's death. At Victor's memorial service at their local church, Marco vows to avenge Victor's death, declaring his intent to eliminate everyone involved in the heinous act, including Russell, who is present at the scene. Despite Peter's attempts to dissuade him from taking a path of violence, Marco remains resolute.
Meanwhile, Tony Issac, Russell's father and the leader of the gold smuggling syndicate, manipulates the situation to his advantage and strikes a deal with Peter involving gold biscuits and a ransom, all while plotting further treachery. During Peter's return from the deal, Isaac's henchman Dev ambushes him in his car, reveals the conspiracy and fatally stabs him. Peter survives, but is hospitalised, further enraging Marco. Peter informs Marco that Tony and Russell were responsible for Victor's death. As Marco sets out for vengeance, Russell reveals his true nature by severely injuring Marco and using a chainsaw to mutilate the arm of Anwar, Marco's right-hand man. An enraged Marco retaliates, killing Russell's goons with the chainsaw. While preparing to kill Russell, Marco learns that Victor's pregnant wife Isha is being held captive by Tony. In exchange for her release, Tony demands the Adattu family's entire gold business operations to be transferred in his name.
Marco captures and tortures Dev using phosgene gas, who confesses that Isha is at Tony's guesthouse, before dying in an explosion. Marco storms the place, slaughtering Tony's henchmen brutally to rescue Isha. However, Tony deceives Marco, revealing that Isha is locked in the trunk of Russell's car. Marco and Anwar track Tony down to his farmhouse, where Tony reveals that he is bisexual and attempts to seduce them but Marco cuts off Tony's hand using a katana and sends it to Russell, disguised as a suitcase containing company documents. In a final trap, Marco rigs Tony's chair with a detonator, which would explode when Tony is lifted off the chair. When the detonator is just about to explode, Tony is hoisted into the air, which triggers the detonator and leaves him mortally wounded. Russell stands helpless outside the warehouse and is unable to do anything but watch as Tony succumbs to his wounds. Peter kills Tariq by hanging him.
Desperate for revenge, Russell seeks help from his elder brother Cyrus, a ruthless butcher. They launch an attack on the Adattu mansion, during Isha's labour, and begin slaughtering the family. Despite Peter's valiant efforts, Cyrus and Russell kill all the members of the family, including the children, Marco's fiancée and Isha, abducting her newborn child and leaves. Gravely injured, Marco and Peter are left to mourn their family's death. Peter urges Marco to avenge not only Victor, but the entire family. Marco adopts a striking and fearsome appearance and confronts Cyrus and Russell at their factory. Marco fights through their henchmen in a bloody showdown, where he kills Russell by stabbing him and ripping out his heart. In a climatic encounter with Cyrus, who holds the newborn child over a vat of acid, Marco decapitates him and rescues the child before pushing him into the acid.
Marco completes his path of vengeance and leaves the factory with the child, while paying the ultimate price in suffering and the loss of his family. In the aftermath, Marco spends time with Victor's son until a convey of cars arrive and take the child away as the screen cuts to black.
Sajitha Sreejith as Ancy Mathews, Marco's foster sister
Chithra Prasad
Suneesh Nambiar as SI Shahul Hameed
Production
Development
In October 2023, Cubes Entertainments announced Marco in which Unni Mukundan will play the lead role written and directed by Haneef Adeni. Marco was the character he previously played in the film Mikhael (2019) starring Nivin Pauly.[12]Marco is a spinoff of Mikhael though both films are unrelated. However Marco has some of the characters in a different setting that existed in Mikhael.[6] The film was expected to commence filming in February 2024. The film is produced by Shareef Muhammed under the Cubes Entertainments banner.[13][14] In February 2024, it was reported to begin the shooting in April 2024.[15]Ravi Basrur, joined the project in March 2024 to compose the music who earlier announced to be part of Prithviraj Sukumaran's period epic Kaaliyan.[16] On April 28, 2024, the makers confirmed that the film will start rolling in the first week of May, 2024.[17]Marco will be co produced by Unni Mukundan Films. The film would have Chandru Selvaraj as the cinematographer, Shameer Muhammed as the editor and Kalai Kingson was signed as the action choreographer. On teaser launch, Producer Shareef Mohammed assured that, full-length film will not compromise its content, though the teaser will be edited for wider reach.[18] The makers announced that, the film will have a release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages.[19]
Casting and filming
Grandson of Thilakan and son of actor Shammi Thilakan, Abhimanyu was cast in his maiden Malayalam film.[9] Actors Siddique, Jagadish and Kabir Duhan Singh were signed for major roles.[20]Yukti Thareja, known for her appearance in the T-Series song "Lut Gaye" opposite Emraan Hashmi, made her debut in Malayalam cinema joining the film on May 20, 2024; confirmed via her social media handle.[10] Debutante Durva Thaker joined the project earlier.[21] Riyaz Khan joined the cast in July 2024.[22]
The first schedule was held in May 2024 in Munnar.[23] The second schedule was wrapped by July 2024 in Kochi.[24][25] The principal photography was wrapped by 28 August 2024 after nearly 100 days of shooting.[26][27]
The film's music along with the background score was composed by Ravi Basrur.[28] The music rights of the film were acquired by Sony Music.[29] The first single, titled "Blood", was released on 22 November 2024.[30] A second version of the song, sung by Santhosh Venky, was released on 25 November 2024 due to criticism of the first version from the audience.[31] The second single titled "Marpapa" was released on 29 November 2024.[32] The complete background score was published by Sony Music India's YouTube channel on 27 December.[33]
Marco was released on 20 December 2024, coinciding with Christmas weekend.[35][36] Apart from the original Malayalam language, it was released in the Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada languages. The film received an A certification from the Central Board of Film Certification due to extreme bloody violence.[37] For the same reason, Marco became the first Indian action film and fifth Indian film in general to receive an R21 rating by the IMDA in Singapore.[38][39] Cubes Entertainment released the film in Kerala while AP International released it across Tamil Nadu. NVR Cinemas released the film in Andhra Pradesh & Telengana. Jai Viratra Entertainment released the Hindi-dubbed version of the film in 1337 screens. Marco will expand its release to South Korea, signing with distributor Noori Pictures, and will be the third South Indian film to have a wide release in the country after the Baahubali films.[8]
Home media
The film began streaming on SonyLIV from 13 February 2025 in Malayalam and dubbed versions of Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages.[40][41]
Reception
Critical response
Sanjith Sridharan of OTTplay gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Marco is the closest Malayalam film to a Prashanth Neel movie, not in terms of scale or story, but style. Unni Mukundan's performance gets the lion's share of credit for this too."[42] Janani K of India Today gave 3/5 stars for the Tamil version and wrote, "The film will blow your mind off with its action pieces and its not for the faint-hearted", concluding as "Actor Unni Mukundan's exceptional performance enhanced the feel of Marco".[43] Reviewing the Telugu version, Pratyusha Sista of Telangana Today stated that, "the film is a must-watch for action lovers, if you're looking for a gripping weekend entertainer as the director takes a simple revenge story and crafts it into a top-notch thriller with his unique vision".[44] Arun Antony of Deccan Herald gave 3/5 stars and wrote, "'Marco' has everything it claims to be: bloody, violent, brutal and it holds back little in terms of onscreen violence, however, the action and stunts are fresh and enjoyable".[45]ABP Live gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Technically the film sets a new standard in Indian cinema and it's a must-watch as the film maintains a thrilling pace with powerful action as well as brilliant direction".[46] Aaliya Farzeen Ashraf of The Week gave 3/5 stars and wrote "Marco caters to fans of stylized action and intense violence."[47] Shilpa Nair Anand of The Hindu wrote "The movie scores on the technical aspects such as the stylised stunts, cinematography and background score; the writing, however, flounders."[48]
Box office
On its opening day, the film grossed ₹10.8 crore worldwide, being the fourth highest day-one grossing Malayalam film in 2024, and one of the highest opener in Malayalam cinema with ₹4.55 from the domestic market.[49][50]Marco became the highest-grossing A rated film of Malayalam cinema surpassing Kammatipaadam (2016).[7] In 3 days, the film grossed over ₹30 crore worldwide with ₹14.75 crore from Kerala.[51][52] In its first 4 day weekend it grossed around ₹40 crore worldwide with ₹18.15 crore from Kerala.[53] The film has grossed ₹25 crore in Kerala and around ₹50 crore worldwide in 7 days.[54] It grossed ₹56 crore in 8 days.[55]
The Hindi dubbed version became the highest grossing Malayalam dubbed film in the Hindi speaking region netting ₹5 crore as of January 03, 2025 surpassing The Goat Life (2024) and 2018 (2023).[56] In 17 days, the total worldwide gross collection stands at ₹91 crore, including ₹40 from Kerala, ₹20 crore from ROI and ₹31 crore from overseas.[57] As of January 12 2025, the film grossed ₹104–115 crore worldwide.[4][5]
Sequel
The film ends with the mention of a sequel in the future. Haneef Adeni confirmed the sequel and is expected to have more action and violence than the original.[58]
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