In this paper, we have investigated theoretically linear as well as weakly nonlinear stability of a viscous liquid film flowing down an inclined or vertical plane under the action of gravity. The classical momentum-integral method, which is applicable for small as well as large values of Reynolds number Re, has been used to formulate the single nonlinear free surface equation in terms of the dimensionless perturbed film thickness η(x,t). Using sinusoidal perturbation in the linearized part of the surface evolution equation, we obtain the stability criterion and the critical value of the wave number kc which conceives the physical parameters Re, inclination angle θ and Weber number We. However, the linear stability analysis reveals the stabilizing influence of We as well as the destabilizing influence of Re and θ on this flow dynamics. The multiple-scale analysis has been used to derive the complex Ginzburg–Landau type nonlinear equation for investigating the weakly nonlinear stability analysis. We demarcate all the four states of the flow in the Re-k (or θ-k)-plane which are found after the critical value of Rec (or θc) depending upon the values of the other parameters. A novel result which emerges from the nonlinear stability analysis is a simple relationship among the parameters k, Re, We, and θ. This relationship essentially gives us the conditions needed for the existence of an explosive unstable zone when (3Re−3cot θ−4ReWek2)= 0; otherwise, the flow system will be free from this zone. Indeed, this zone decreases with the increase in We, whereas it increases with the increase in Re and θ confirming the stabilizing role of We and destabilizing role of Re and θ as found in linear stability analysis.

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