2024 was a rollercoaster for Tamil cinema—big stars stumbled, small films soared, and the box office told a tale of surprises. While the year saw a whopping 241 releases and a reported ₹1000 crore loss industry-wide, a handful of Tamil movies broke through the noise to become bona fide hits. Here’s the rundown of Kollywood’s top Tamil-language box office champs of 2024, based on their Tamil Nadu and worldwide gross as of March 1, 2025.
1. The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) – ₹222.5 Crore (Tamil Nadu) / ₹456 Crore (Worldwide)
Vijay’s GOAT, directed by Venkat Prabhu, roared to the top with a sci-fi action twist. Grossing ₹222.5 crore in Tamil Nadu and ₹456 crore globally, it’s the year’s undisputed king. Packed with Vijay in dual roles, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and a banging Yuvan Shankar Raja score, it overcame a hefty ₹400 crore budget to deliver a hit—though profit margins were tight. Fans called it Vijay’s victory lap before his political plunge.
2. Amaran – ₹160 Crore (Tamil Nadu) / ₹330 Crore (Worldwide)
Sivakarthikeyan’s Amaran was the sleeper blockbuster of 2024. This biopic of Major Mukund Varadarajan, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, hit ₹160 crore in Tamil Nadu and ₹330 crore worldwide on a modest ₹130 crore budget. With Sai Pallavi and a heart-wrenching tale of valor, it’s a clean superhit—proof that content can outshine star power. It’s still climbing on OTT, too!
3. Vettaiyan – ₹99 Crore (Tamil Nadu) / ₹245 Crore (Worldwide)
Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel, snagged third place with ₹99 crore in Tamil Nadu and ₹245 crore globally. Teaming up with Amitabh Bachchan and Fahadh Faasil, it had a buzzy start but mixed reviews capped its run. Made on a big budget, it fell short of Jailer’s 2023 magic—still a hit, just not a home run.
4. Raayan – ₹80 Crore (Tamil Nadu) / ₹156 Crore (Worldwide)
Dhanush wrote, directed, and starred in Raayan, a gritty action-drama that hauled ₹80 crore in Tamil Nadu and ₹156 crore worldwide. With a ₹90 crore budget, it turned a tidy profit, cementing Dhanush’s triple-threat status. Its emotional punch and A-rated edge made it 2024’s top-grossing A-rated Tamil film—raw and real.
5. Maharaja – ₹71 Crore (Tamil Nadu) / ₹110 Crore (Worldwide)
Vijay Sethupathi’s Maharaja was the dark horse, grossing ₹71 crore in Tamil Nadu and ₹110 crore globally on a lean budget. This revenge thriller, directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, became a pan-Indian sleeper hit—quietly brutal and wildly profitable.
Why These Stood Out
2024’s Tamil hits leaned on strong scripts over star-studded flops like Indian 2 or Kanguva. Smaller gems like Lubber Pandhu (₹43 crore) and Garudan (₹50 crore) also shone, but these five ruled the roost. Which was your fave? Drop it below—Kollywood’s 2024 champs deserve a shoutout!