The Tamil film industry, widely known as Kollywood, has had a remarkable year in 2025, with several films making a significant impact on the Kollywood box office. This report details the top 10 highest-grossing Tamil movies of 2025, based on the latest data as of May 2025.
These films, all originally produced in the Tamil language, reflect the diversity of Kollywood cinema, spanning action, drama, comedy, and romance.
Below, we provide a detailed analysis of each film’s worldwide box office collections, estimated budgets, and key highlights, supported by data from sources like Bollymoviereviewz, Wikipedia, Pinkvilla, and Sacnilk.
Top 10 Highest-Grossing Tamil Movies in 2025
| Rank | Movie | Worldwide Gross (₹ crore) | Budget (₹ crore) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Good Bad Ugly | 245.35 | 200 | Hit |
| 2 | Dragon | 152 | 55 | Superhit |
| 3 | Vidaamuyarchi | 138 | 185 | Average |
| 4 | Retro | 97 | 160 | Loss |
| 5 | Tourist Family | 77.15 | 16 | Superhit |
| 6 | Madha Gaja Raja | 63 | 15 | Hit |
| 7 | Veera Dheera Sooran | 62 | 72 | Loss |
| 8 | Kudumbasthan | 28 | 10 | Hit |
| 9 | Maaman | 26.95 | 10 | Hit |
| 10 | Kadhalikka Neramillai | 16.50 | 5 | Average |
Note: Verdicts are based on box office performance relative to budget, as per industry standards (e.g., “Superhit” for films earning over 200% of their budget, “Hit” for 100–200%, “Average” for recovering budget or slightly more, “Loss” for failing to recover budget). Figures are approximate and may vary slightly across sources.
1. Good Bad Ugly
Directed by Adhik Ravichandran and starring Ajith Kumar and Trisha Krishnan, Good Bad Ugly was released in April 2025 and quickly topped the Kollywood box office. Marketed as a “sambavam” (event), this action-comedy grossed ₹245.35 crore worldwide. It earned ₹119.35 crore gross in India and ₹52.15 crore overseas by its fifth day. Despite its high budget, the film’s strong performance ensured profitability.
- Box Office Collection: ₹245.35 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹200 crore (including promotion costs)
- Key Highlights: The film surpassed Dragon to claim the top spot, with a reported range of ₹179–242 crore, solidifying its dominance in 2025.
2. Dragon
Released in February 2025, Dragon, starring Pradeep Ranganathan and Anupama Parameswaran, emerged as a surprise hit. Directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, the film grossed ₹152 crore worldwide, with a slightly lower ₹147.5 crore. Its modest budget of ₹55 crore made it one of the most profitable films of the year, earning a “Superhit” verdict.
- Box Office Collection: ₹152 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹55 crore
- Key Highlights: The film’s success was driven by positive word-of-mouth, with its ₹81 crore collection in Tamil Nadu alone, highlighting its regional strength.
Related: Ace Hit or Flop, Box Office Verdict
3. Vidaamuyarchi
Another Ajith Kumar starrer, Vidaamuyarchi, directed by Magizh Mithra, was released in February 2025. The action thriller grossed ₹138 crore worldwide, though some reports indicated ₹144.25 crore. Despite its high budget, the film’s performance was considered average, as it fell short of recovering its costs fully.
- Box Office Collection: ₹138 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹185 crore
- Key Highlights: The film faced high expectations but was labeled a “disappointment” due to its underperformance relative to budget.
4. Retro
Directed by Karthik Subbaraj and starring Suriya and Pooja Hegde, Retro was a romantic action drama released in May 2025. It grossed ₹97 crore worldwide, though initial reports indicated a higher ₹200 crore, likely a typo. With a budget of ₹160 crore, the film struggled to break even but was notable for its ₹10 crore donation to the Agaram Foundation.
- Box Office Collection: ₹97 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹160 crore
- Key Highlights: The film had a strong opening, grossing ₹17 crore in Tamil Nadu on its first day, surpassing Suriya’s previous film Kanguva.
5. Tourist Family
This heartwarming family drama, starring Sasikumar and Simran, was released in May 2025. It grossed ₹77.15 crore worldwide, with a close ₹78.1 crore. With a modest budget of ₹16 crore, it was one of the most profitable films of 2025.
- Box Office Collection: ₹77.15 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹16 crore
- Key Highlights: The film’s emotional narrative resonated with audiences, earning ₹52.65 crore in Tamil Nadu.
6. Madha Gaja Raja
Directed by Sundar C and starring Vishal, Anjali, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and Santhanam, Madha Gaja Raja was released on January 12, 2025, after a 12-year delay. It grossed ₹63 crore worldwide, with some reports indicating ₹57.1 crore. Its ₹15 crore budget made it a significant hit, especially during the Pongal weekend.
- Box Office Collection: ₹63 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹15 crore
- Key Highlights: The film earned ₹50 crore in Tamil Nadu within 12 days, defying expectations for a delayed release.
7. Veera Dheera Sooran
The sequel to the 2021 hit, starring Vikram, was released in March 2025. It grossed ₹62 crore worldwide, with some reports indicating ₹65.5 crore. Despite a ₹72 crore budget, the film’s performance was considered disappointing by some.
- Box Office Collection: ₹62 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹72 crore
- Key Highlights: The film built on the success of its predecessor but faced challenges in matching expectations.
8. Kudumbasthan
Directed by Rajeshwar Kalisamy and starring K. Manikandan, Saanve Megghana, and Guru Somasundaram, this family drama was released in January 2025. It grossed ₹28 crore worldwide, with some reports indicating ₹27.26 crore. Its ₹10 crore budget made it a profitable venture, earning a “hit” verdict.
- Box Office Collection: ₹28 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹10 crore
- Key Highlights: The film’s 101% profit margin made it the second most profitable Tamil film of 2025.
9. Maaman
Directed by Prasanth Pandiyaraj and starring Soori and Aishwarya Lekshmi, Maaman was released in May 2025. It grossed ₹26.95 crore worldwide, with some reports indicating ₹9.63 crore net in India by day 3. Its ₹10 crore budget ensured profitability despite mixed reviews.
- Box Office Collection: ₹26.95 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹10 crore
- Key Highlights: The film surpassed Kadhalikka Neramillai to become the 10th highest-grossing Tamil film.
Related: Garudan Movie Box Office Verdict – Hit or Flop
10. Kadhalikka Neramillai
A romantic comedy directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, starring Jayam Ravi and Nithya Menen, was released on January 14, 2025. It grossed ₹16.50 crore worldwide, with some reports indicating ₹9.38 crore net in India. Its ₹5 crore budget made it modestly profitable, though it was considered a “colossal disaster” commercially.
- Box Office Collection: ₹16.50 crore (worldwide gross)
- Budget: ₹5 crore
- Key Highlights: The film received mixed to positive reviews, with praise for its sensitive approach to modern relationships.
Key Insights
- Dominance of Star Power: Films like Good Bad Ugly and Vidaamuyarchi leveraged Ajith Kumar’s fanbase to achieve strong box office performances, though Vidaamuyarchi struggled to recover its budget.
- Profitability of Low-Budget Films: Tourist Family, Madha Gaja Raja, and Kudumbasthan proved that modest budgets paired with strong storytelling can yield significant returns on the Kollywood box office.
- Genre Diversity: The list includes action (Good Bad Ugly, Vidaamuyarchi), romantic action (Retro), family drama (Tourist Family, Kudumbasthan), and romantic comedy (Kadhalikka Neramillai), showcasing Kollywood’s versatility.
- Data Variability: Box office figures vary slightly across sources due to differences in reporting (e.g., net vs. gross, Tamil Nadu vs. worldwide). For instance, Retro’s collection was reported as ₹200 crore but corrected to ₹97 crore.
Related: Jana Nayagan Release date
Conclusion
The Kollywood box office in 2025 has showcased a dynamic mix of films, from high-budget blockbusters like Good Bad Ugly to low-budget successes like Tourist Family.
While star-driven films continue to lead, smaller films have proven their worth through compelling narratives. As the year progresses, new releases may challenge these rankings, but these films have set a high benchmark for Tamil cinema in 2025.