Tamil movies have been doing exceptionally great for a long time. Recently we are seeing how these movies are attracting young across India. The first silent movie in Tamil, “Keechaka Vadham” in 1918 brought everyone attention. Since then we have been seeing huge growth in the Kollywood industry. Known for their unbelievable action scenes & unique story, Kollywood industry has succeeded in attracting young & have slowly influenced Bollywood Industry to adapt their style. So In this article, we are listing All-Time Top Tamil Movies based on the Critics rating and commercial Success at Box Office.
Top Tamil Movies List
Also, read
- Tamil Movies Box Office Collections
- Tamil Bog Boss Updates
- Upcoming New Tamil Movies Coming Out this Diwali
- Biggest Box Office Hits & Flops of 2018 – Bollywood, Hollywood, Tollywood, Kollywood
- Upcoming New Tamil Movies Coming Out Now In Theatres
Nayakan (1987)
| Production company | Muktha Films |
| Cast | Kamal Haasan, Saranya Karthika |
| Music | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Cinematography | P. C. Sreeram |
| Producer | Muktha Srinivasan, Muktha V. Ramaswamy, G. Venkateswaran |
| Written and Directed by | Mani Ratnam |
| Release Date | 1 July 1987 |
Nayakan is one of the best action- gangster movie from 1987. This movie has won several awards and was praised by critics. Watching this movie still gives tears & especially Kamal Haasan’s acting. This movie was & still is one of the best Drama movies of all time. Another big reason for this movie to become the great hit was because of Mani Ratnam’s amazing direction & Ilaiyaraaja’s music.
This story is based on real-life Bombay underworld don Varadarajan Mudaliar, and Describing the struggle of the South Indians, who live in Bombay (now Mumbai).
Thalapathi (1991)
| Production company | G. V. Films Ltd |
| Cast | Rajinikanth, Mammootty, Arvind Swamy, Amrish Puri, Srividya, Bhanupriya, Shobana Geetha |
| Music | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Cinematography | Santosh Sivan |
| Producer | G. Venkateswaran |
| Written and Directed by | Mani Ratnam |
| Release Date | 5 November 1991 |
Thalapathi is a 1991 Tamil-language crime-drama movie. This movie was one of the best Classic movies ever. The story, direction, acting, songs, picturization were incomparable. Featuring Rajinikanth & Mammootty, Aravind Swamy that makes the movie worth watching. This movie is based on the friendship between Duryodhana and Karna of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata.
Roja(1992)
| Production company | Kavithalayaa Productions |
| Cast | Arvind Swamy, Madhoo |
| Music | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Cinematography | Santosh Sivan |
| Producer | K. Balachander |
| Written and Directed by | Mani Ratnam |
| Release Date | 15 August 1992 |
Roja is a Tamil-language romantic thriller movie. this movie received several awards and was praised by critics. It was the highest grossing Tamil movie of 1992. This movie is one of the musical hit movies ever.
This movie story was based on the relationship between Satyavan and Savitri of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. The movie about Roja a normal girl, who gets married to Rishi. Rishi is kidnapped by militants during a secret undercover mission in Jammu and Kashmir. how she makes efforts to find her husband.
Gentleman (1993)
| Production company | A. R. S. Film International |
| Cast | Arjun, Madhoo, Goundamani, Charan Raj, Subhashri, Senthil, Vineeth |
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Cinematography | Jeeva |
| Producer | K. T. Kunjumon |
| Written and Directed by | Shankar |
| Release Date | 21 October 1993 |
Gentleman was one of the best movies ever seen. This movie is a 1993 best action-thriller movie with the best storyline and dialogs, with direction. It was legendary director Shanker’s first movie.
Kicha is a small business owner by day becomes modern day robin hood by night takes from the rich to provide education for the poor. Why he become a robin hood, and what happens in his life.
Baasha(1995)
| Production company | Sathya Movies |
| Cast | Rajinikanth, Nagma, Raghuvaran |
| Music | Deva |
| Cinematography | P. S. Prakash |
| Producer | R. M. Veerappan |
| Written and Directed by | Suresh Krissna |
| Release Date | 12 January 1995 |
Baasha is a Tamil-language action movie. This movie was one of the highly successful movies in the career of Rajinikanth and his won Cinema Express Award and Filmfans Association Award for the Best Actor for his performance in the movie. it was the highest grossing Tamil cinema movie releasing in1995. This movie which was based on the 1991 Hindi movie Hum.
The movie story about the life of an auto driver Manikkam, who stays away from violence but forced to show his violent side after his sister is attacked and his past life as a gangster is revealed.
Indian (1996)
| Production company | Sri Surya Movies |
| Cast | Kamal Haasan, Manisha Koirala, Urmila Matondkar, Sukanya |
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Cinematography | Jeeva |
| Producer | A. M. Rathnam, Jhamu Sughand |
| Written and Directed by | S. Shankar |
| Release Date | 9 May 1996 |
Indian is one of the best Classic movies ever seen. This movie is a 1996 action thriller movie. The legend actor Kamal Hassan’s performance won at the Tamil Nadu State Film Award and the Filmfare Award. It was also the highest grossing Tamil movie.
This movie story about an Indian freedom fighter, who against the British rule. After independence, he has strived fights corruption in the society. he murders all the illegal persons one by one using an ancient martial arts technique.
Iruvar (1997)
| Production company | Madras Talkies |
| Cast | Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai, Revathi, Gouthami, Tabu, Nassar |
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Cinematography | Santosh Sivan |
| Producer | Mani Ratnam, G. Srinivasan |
| Written and Directed by | Mani Ratnam |
| Release Date | 14 January 1997 |
Iruvar is a 1997 Tamil-language epic political drama movie. The movie, which is based on the relationship between cinema and politics in Tamil Nadu. Iruvar was praised by critics and won the Best Film award at the Belgrade International Film Festival and two National Film Awards.
This movie storyline is based on the real-life relationship between M.G. Ramachandran and Karunanidhi. How they fought in life and how they got popularity.
Ramana(2002)
| Production company | Aascar Film Pvt. Ltd |
| Cast | Vijayakanth, Simran, Ashima Bhalla, Vijayan, Yugi Sethu, Riyaz Khan, Mukesh Rishi |
| Music | Ilaiyaraja |
| Cinematography | M. S. Prabhu |
| Producer | V. Ravichandran |
| Written and Directed by | A. R. Murugadoss |
| Release Date | 4 November 2002 |
Ramana is a 2002 Tamil language action drama movie. This movie is one of the remarkable Tamil drama movies. It was won the 2002 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film and Director A. R. Murugadoss took Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer.
The movie story about a man named Ramana who eradicate corruption, with the help of his former students who work in various government offices.
Anniyaan(2005)
| Production company | Aascar Films |
| Cast | Vikram, Sadha, Vivek, Prakash Raj |
| Music | Harris Jayaraj |
| Cinematography | Ravi Varman, V. Manikandan |
| Producer | V. Ravichandran |
| Written and Directed by | S. Shankar |
| Release Date | 17 June 2005 |
Anniyaan is a 2005 psychological thriller movie and, is one of the best movies ever. This movie is a box office success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil movies of 2005 in India and overseas. Anniyaan movie won eight Filmfare Awards and six State Film Awards.
The movie story about the life of Raamu(Vikram), who suffered multiple personality disorder. He works as a lawyer by day and a vigilante at night. He takes tips from the ‘Garuda Purana’ as his tools to expose various antisocial elements.
Enthiran(2010)
| Production company | Sun Pictures |
| Cast | Rajinikanth, Aishwarya Rai, Danny Denzongpa |
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Cinematography | R. Rathnavelu |
| Producer | Kalanithi Maran |
| Written and Directed by | S. Shankar |
| Release Date | 1 October 2010 |
Enthiran is a 2010 science fiction movie has won the Indian National Film Award and several Filmfare awards, including the Critics Award for Best Movie and Best Screenplay. This movie was the fourth-highest grossing South Indian movie of all time.
The movie story about the scientist Vaseegaran ( Rajinikanth) to control his creation, a robot named Chitti (Rajinikanth), after robot software is upgraded to give it the ability to exhibit human emotions. Problems arise when the Chitti falls in love with the scientist’s girlfriend (Aishwarya Rai).
Thuppakki(2012)
| Production company | V Creations |
| Cast | Vijay, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyan, Vidyut Jammwal, Jayaram |
| Music | Harris Jayaraj |
| Cinematography | Santosh Sivan |
| Producer | S. Thanu |
| Written and Directed by | AR Murugadoss |
| Release Date | 13 November 2012 |
Thuppakki is a 2012 action-thriller movie won six Vijay Awards from sixteen nominations and was nominated for seven South Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor for Vijay.
The movie story about Jagdish (Vijay) is a soldier, who visits Mumbai for a holiday to be with his family and find a suitable bride. Jagadish(Vijay) has a mission to crack down on terrorist sleeper cells in Mumbai. How he is moving around like an ordinary person using his brain and brawn in the correct measure, tracks down the terrorist in his own unique way forms the rest of this escapist entertainer.
Kaththi(2014)
| Production company | Ayngaran International, Lyca Productions |
| Cast | Vijay, Samantha Akkineni, Neil Nitin Mukesh |
| Music | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Cinematography | George C. Williams |
| Producer | K. Karunamoorthi, A. Subashkaran |
| Written and Directed by | AR Murugadoss |
| Release Date | 22 October 2014 |
Kaththi is a Tamil Crime Thriller movie is one of the best movies ever. that has won several awards and praised by critics. It was the highest grossing south Indian movie of 2014.
The movie story about Jeevanandham(Vijay), a social activist fight against an MNC company to restore farming. The other person Kathiresan(Vijay), a thief, who changes position with Jeevanandham because of destiny, and leads the war with the corporate heads by, Neil Nitin Mukesh, which tries to steal the fertile lands from villagers.
Thani Oruvan(2015)
| Production company | AGS Entertainment |
| Cast | Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swamy, Nayanthara |
| Music | Hip-hop Tamizha |
| Cinematography | Ramji |
| Producer | Kalpathi S. Aghoram, Kalpathi S. Ganesh |
| Written and Directed by | Mohan Raja |
| Release Date | 28 Aug 2015 |
Thani Oruvan is a 2015 Tamil action thriller movie and That has won several awards where the critics have praised this movie for best acting, best direction, best story and etc. This movie was one of the highest grossed movies in Tamil. The movie story about Mithran is an IPS Officer who wants to arrest Siddharth Abhimanyu, an affluent scientist who uses secret illegal medical practices for profit.
24(2016)
| Production company | 2D Entertainment |
| Cast | Suriya, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Nithya Menen, Saranya Ponvannan |
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Cinematography | Tirru, Kiran Deohans |
| Producer | Suriya |
| Written and Directed by | Vikram Kumar |
| Release Date | 6 May 2016 |
24 is a science fiction thriller movie with the best storyline and dialogs. This movie won two awards at the 64th National Film Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Production Design and hero Suriya has taken the Critics Best Actor Award at 64th Filmfare Awards. This movie story is based on the Based on the concept of time-travel.
sethuraman(Surya), a scientist who creates a watch that you can travel on time. His brother Athreya(Surya), who wants to watch for him and hence kills Sethuraman (scientist). In the process of his killing, he will go to coma, also damaging his body. 26 years later, Athrea recovers and he wants to find the watch so that he can change his state.
Vikram Vedha (2017)
| Production company | Y NOT Studios |
| Cast | R. Madhavan, Vijay Sethupathi, Shraddha Srinath, Kathir, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar |
| Music | Sam C. S. |
| Cinematography | P. S. Vinod |
| Producer | S. Sashikanth |
| Written and Directed by | Pushkar–Gayathri |
| Release Date | 21 July 2017 |
Vikram Vedha is a modern action thriller movie. Crossed the worldwide gross to ₹70 crore making it one of the highest-grossing Tamil movie of all time. This movie was received four Filmfare and three Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards and two Techofes Awards.
The movie story about Vikram(Madhavan), a policeman. Vikram and his partner Simon are on the hunt to capture Vedha. When one-day Vedha(Vijay Sethupathi) surrenders, he offers to tell Vikram a story, throwing Vikram’s life into disarray.
96 Movie(2018)
| Production company | Madras Enterprises |
| Cast | Vijay Sethupathi, Trisha, Adhitya Bhaskar, Gouri G Kishan |
| Music | Govind Menon |
| Cinematography | Mahediran Jayaraju |
| Producer | S. Nandagopal |
| Written and Directed by | C. Prem Kumar |
| Release Date | 4 October 2018 |
96 movie is a Tami 2018 love romantic movie. This movie was one best romantic movies ever. We see how both the leads share their love with each other, without sharing a word. Both the characters had played the best role, which makes this movie the best Tamil romantic of the year 2018.
The movie’s story is about the journey of Ram (Vijay Sethupathi) who decides to visit his native place to do his work and have some old, good memories. During his visit, he goes through some good memories from his School times & meets his old friends. As he visits his native place his friends plan for a School reunion where he meets his first love, Janaki (Trisha Krishnan).