As 2025 draws to a close, Tamil cinema has witnessed a year of diverse cinematic experiences, marked by both high-budget spectacles and heartwarming content-driven stories. While some highly anticipated films lived up to expectations, others surprised audiences, and a few smaller productions carved their own niche at the box office. Here's a look at the top eight highest-grossing Tamil films of the year:

1. Coolie: Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring Rajinikanth, Coolie emerged as the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2025, despite mixed reviews. The film grossed over ₹500 crore worldwide. While it met with widespread criticism, the film's director, Lokesh Kanagaraj, acknowledged the feedback and expressed his intention to address the shortcomings in his future projects. Despite not fully meeting the pre-release hype, Coolie still managed to connect with fans through action sequences and a heroic flair.

2. Good Bad Ugly: Ajith Kumar's Good Bad Ugly, directed by Adhik Ravichandran, secured the second position with a worldwide gross of ₹248.25 crore. The film is considered a comeback for Ajith, offering ample action and commercial elements that resonated well with his fanbase.

3. Dragon: Directed by Ashwath Marimuthu and starring Pradeep Ranganathan, Dragon proved to be a surprise hit, grossing over ₹150 crore worldwide. The film's energetic pacing and lively script appealed to students and first-time moviegoers, earning it a "Blockbuster" verdict.

4. Vidaamuyarchi: Another film starring Ajith Kumar, Vidaamuyarchi, directed by Magizh Thirumeni, earned ₹138 crore worldwide. However, industry trackers have labeled the film as a "flop".

5. Dude: Keerthiswaran's Dude, starring Pradeep and Mamitha Baiju, was one of the year's most profitable ventures, earning a "Super Hit" verdict. The film grossed ₹114.3 crore worldwide. Dude's success can be attributed to its catchy songs, vibrant performances, and comic action sequences, which strongly appealed to student audiences.

6. Madharaasi: Sivakarthikeyan-AR Murugadoss' Madharaasi grossed ₹98.75 crore worldwide. The film weaves mystery, action, and drama and attracted multiplex viewers with its urban flavor and polished visuals. Despite generally positive reviews from critics, Madharaasi is considered a flop.

7. Thug Life: Mani Ratnam's Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan, earned ₹97.25 crore worldwide. Despite the star power involved, the film is considered a "misfire" and a flop.

8. Retro: Suriya-Karthik Subbaraj's Retro closes out the top eight, with a worldwide total of ₹97.35 crore. The film's retro-style visuals, music, and family-centered emotions resonated with audiences, emphasizing feel-good storytelling. Despite mixed reviews, it is considered a commercially successful film.

The Tamil box office in 2025 showcased a mix of large-scale spectacles and content-led titles. Films like Tourist Family and Thalaivan Thalaivii also gained good traction at the box office. Kollywood definitely missed Thalapathy Vijay, who had no release in 2025. The industry now looks forward to 2026, with Jana Nayagan scheduled for release.