Stree (2018) Horror Movie Poster

Stree (2018)

MovieComedy Horror Folk Horror

Released: August 31, 2018

Runtime: 127 min

UA

India

Hindi

In the small town of Chanderi, every year during a four-day festival, a ghost called Stree comes for the men. She calls your name, and if you turn around, she takes you, leaving only your clothes behind. So the townspeople write "O Stree, kal aana", "O Stree, come tomorrow", on their walls. Stree, directed by Amar Kaushik and written by Raj and DK, is loosely based on a real urban legend from Bengaluru, Nale Ba. It stars Rajkummar Rao as Vicky, a tailor who falls for a mysterious girl, played by Shraddha Kapoor. Made for about 25 crore rupees, it earned around 180 crore and became a huge surprise hit. It started the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, which continued with Bhediya, Munjya and Stree 2. Fans still ask who the mysterious girl is, how Stree is defeated, and what the ending means.

7.8/10

Horror Jungle Rating

IMDb

7.5/10

IMDb Rating

75%

Rotten Tomatoes

Watch Trailer Where to Watch

QUICK HORROR SNAPSHOT

Creepiness & Uncanny

7/10

Monster / Killer Threat

6/10

Atmosphere & Dread

7/10

Re-watch Value

8/10

Gore & Violence

2/10

Jump Scares

5/10

Psychological Terror

3/10

Overall Scare Factor

4/10

Tension & Suspense

6/10

Official Trailer

Where to watch

Updated November 12, 2026

JioHotstar

JioHotstarIN

Available

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime VideoAU · CA · IN · UK · US

Available

SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?

Worth Watching?The film that started Bollywood's horror comedy boom, funny and smart.

Yes

Watch Alone?It is more funny than scary.

Yes

Watch in the Dark?The night scenes are better in the dark.

Maybe

Good for Date Night?Funny, a little scary and great fun together.

Yes

Watch With Parents?Family-friendly, with some adult jokes.

Yes

Beginner Friendly?A gentle introduction to Indian horror.

Yes

Family Friendly?Fine for teens; some scenes may scare young children.

Maybe

Slow Burn?It moves quickly with lots of jokes.

No

Headphones Recommended?The songs are catchy, but not essential.

Maybe

18+

Age RecommendationContains strong horror content, violence, and disturbing themes.

13+

Spoiler Free Review

Vicky (Rajkummar Rao) is the best tailor in Chanderi, a small town obsessed with a ghost called Stree, who abducts men at night during the annual festival. When Vicky meets a beautiful, mysterious girl (Shraddha Kapoor) who only appears during the festival, his friends Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana) and Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) start to wonder if she is the ghost herself.

The film mixes small-town comedy with genuine scares. The friends' banter is hilarious, and Pankaj Tripathi steals every scene as Rudra, the town's self-appointed expert on Stree.

Underneath the jokes is a sharp message. The film flips the usual horror story: this time it is men who are afraid to go out at night, and women who hold the power.

The final act gets a bit muddled, and the scares are mild. But Stree is a fresh, funny and clever horror comedy, and a true Bollywood original.

What Works

Hilarious performances from Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi and the cast.

A smart, feminist twist on horror.

The mystery of the girl keeps you guessing.

The small-town atmosphere of Chanderi.

What Doesn't Work

The final act is muddled.

The scares are mild.

Some songs slow the story down.

FINAL VERDICT:

Stree is a clever, funny horror comedy that launched a whole universe. Watch it with friends, and do not turn around if someone calls your name.

Be Careful, Spoilers Ahead

Plot Summary (Spoilers)

In Chanderi, locals believe a spirit called Stree abducts men during a four-day annual festival, leaving only their clothes behind. She calls a man's name, and if he turns around, she takes him. People write "O Stree, kal aana" on their walls and avoid going out after 10 PM.

Vicky, a talented tailor, falls for a mysterious, beautiful girl who only appears during the festival and asks him for strange items, like a lizard's tail and a chameleon's blood. His friend Bittu suspects she is Stree. When their friend Jana is taken by Stree, Vicky, Bittu and the local librarian Rudra decide to investigate.

They learn Stree's story: she was a beautiful courtesan who fell in love and was killed by jealous townsmen before she could marry, so her spirit now takes the town's men out of loneliness and anger. A prophecy says a man born to a courtesan, under an oak tree, can defeat her. Vicky turns out to fit this description.

With the help of the mysterious girl, Vicky confronts Stree. He treats her with love and respect, and cuts off her braid, which is the source of her power. Stree disappears. The mysterious girl leaves town on a bus, and attaches Stree's braid to her own hair.

A year later, Stree returns to Chanderi, but finds that the townspeople have built a statue in her honour, with the words "O Stree, raksha karna", "O Stree, protect us". She leaves peacefully.

Ending Explained

Who is the mysterious girl? The film never says. She knows about Stree, helps Vicky defeat her, and takes Stree's braid at the end. Fans believe she may be a witch, or connected to Stree herself. Stree 2 explores her more.

How is Stree defeated? Vicky cuts off her braid, the source of her power, after treating her with love and respect.

Why does the girl take the braid? It suggests she wanted Stree's power for herself, and that her real goal all along may have been the braid.

What does the ending mean? When Stree returns, the town now honours her instead of fearing her. Respect for women replaces fear, and she leaves in peace.

Is there a sequel? Yes. Stree 2 was released in 2024, and the story connects to Bhediya and Munjya in the Maddock universe.

Hidden Meaning & Symbolism

Role reversal: Men must fear going out at night, as women often do.
Respect: Stree is defeated with respect, not violence.
Small-town India: The film gently mocks superstitions while celebrating local culture.
Women's power: Stree and the mysterious girl hold all the power in the story.

Scariest Moments

1

The Opening: A man hears his name called and turns around.

2

Jana Taken: Jana is lured away by a voice in the night.

3

Stree Appears: The ghost floats over the rooftops of Chanderi.

4

The Old Fort: The final showdown with Stree.

Parents Guide / Trigger Warnings

Jump Scares

Mild

A few jump scares.

Flashing Lights

Mild

Festival lights and some effects.

Substance Abuse

Mild

Some drinking.

Animal Death

Mild

The girl asks for a lizard's tail.

Sexual Content

Mild

Some adult jokes and innuendo.

Graphic Gore

Very Mild

Almost no blood.

Child Death / Peril

None

No children are in danger.

Nudity

None

No nudity.

Suicide / Self Harm

None

No suicide or self-harm.

Trigger Warning Notes:

Contains mild horror, ghostly abductions, a murdered woman's backstory and some adult jokes.

Trivia

It is loosely based on the Bengaluru urban legend Nale Ba, meaning "come tomorrow" in Kannada.
It was filmed in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, with more shooting in Bhopal and Mumbai.
It was Amar Kaushik's first film as director, and won him the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director.
Made for about 23 to 25 crore rupees, it earned around 180 crore worldwide.
It is the first film in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe.

FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

Who is the girl in Stree?

The film never reveals it. She helps defeat Stree and takes her braid, hinting she may be a witch. Stree 2 explores her more.

Is Stree based on a true story?

It is loosely based on the Nale Ba urban legend from Bengaluru.

What does "O Stree kal aana" mean?

"O Stree, come tomorrow". People write it on their walls so the ghost will leave.

How is Stree defeated?

Vicky cuts off her braid, the source of her power.

Is Stree connected to Bhediya?

Yes. Both are part of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, along with Munjya and Stree 2.

What is the order of the Stree movies?

Stree (2018), Bhediya (2022), Munjya (2024), Stree 2 (2024) and Thamma (2025).

Is Stree scary?

Mildly. It is mainly a comedy with a few good scares.

Where was Stree filmed?

In Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Where can I watch Stree?

It streams on Amazon Prime Video in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and India, and on JioHotstar in India.

Movie Information

Original Title

स्त्री

Release Date

August 31, 2018

Runtime

127 min

Country

India

Language

Hindi

Status

Released

Director

Amar Kaushik

Writer

Raj & DK, Sumit Arora

Main Cast

Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee, Flora Saini, Vijay Raaz

Production Company

Maddock Films, Jio Studios, D2R Films

Distributor

AA Films

IMDb Page

Maddock Horror Comedy Universe

Maddock Films' shared world of Indian folk legends and laughs: Stree, Bhediya, Munjya, Stree 2 and more.

Films: 3
Span: 2018-24
Avg HJ: 7.2/10

012018
HJ7.8
You're here
Stree
Comedy Horror
022022
HJ7.0
Bhediya
Comedy Horror
032024
HJ6.8
Munjya
Comedy Horror