Tamil cinema, also known as Kollywood, has produced some of the most iconic and critically acclaimed films in Indian cinema history.
Top 10 best Tamil movies of all time Overview
| Rank | Movie | Release Year | Budget | Cast | Box Office Collection | IMDb Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nayakan | 1987 | ₹1 crore | Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, Sharmila Tagore | ₹15 crore | 9.1 |
| 2 | Anbe Sivam | 2003 | ₹5 crore | Kamal Haasan, R. Madhavan, Trisha | ₹12 crore | 9.2 |
| 3 | Pariyerum Perumal | 2018 | ₹1 crore | Kathir, Anandhi, Yogi Babu | ₹5 crore | 9.0 |
| 4 | Jai Bhim | 2021 | ₹5 crore | Suriya, Rajisha Vijayan, Prakash Raj | ₹10 crore | 9.6 |
| 5 | Soorarai Pottru | 2020 | ₹25 crore | Suriya, Aparna Balamurali, Paresh Rawal | ₹50 crore | 9.1 |
| 6 | 96 | 2018 | ₹20 crore | Vijay Sethupathi, Trisha | ₹100 crore | 8.7 |
| 7 | Kaithi | 2019 | ₹15 crore | Karthi, Narain, Dheena | ₹25 crore | 8.8 |
| 8 | Thevar Magan | 1992 | ₹5 crore | Kamal Haasan, Sivaji Ganesan, Revathi | ₹10 crore | 8.9 |
| 9 | Asuran | 2019 | ₹20 crore | Dhanush, Manju Warrier, Pasupathy | ₹100 crore | 8.6 |
| 10 | Visaaranai | 2015 | ₹2 crore | Samuthirakani, Dinesh Ravi, Murugadoss | ₹5 crore | 9.1 |
Top 10 best Tamil movies of all time List
Here is a list of the top 10 best Tamil movies of all time, based on their budgets, cast, box office collections, IMDb ratings, and reviews.
1. Nayakan (1987)
- Cast: Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, Sharmila Tagore
- Budget: ₹1 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹15 crore
- IMDb Rating: 9.1
Nayakan is a gangster film directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role. It tells the story of Velu Nayakan, a don who rises to power in the underworld of Mumbai. The film was praised for its realistic portrayal of the underworld, its complex characters, and Haasan’s powerful performance.
Review: Nayakan is a masterpiece of Tamil cinema. It is a must-watch for anyone who loves gangster films, or simply well-made films in general. Haasan’s performance is iconic, and the film is full of memorable scenes.
2. Anbe Sivam (2003)
- Cast: Kamal Haasan, R. Madhavan, Trisha
- Budget: ₹5 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹12 crore
- IMDb Rating: 9.2
Anbe Sivam is a comedy-drama film directed by Sundar C. and starring Kamal Haasan and R. Madhavan in the lead roles. It tells the story of two strangers, Nallasivam and Karthik, who meet during a journey and how their lives are intertwined. The film was praised for its heartwarming story, its humor, and the performances of Haasan and Madhavan.
Review: Anbe Sivam is a feel-good film that will leave you with a smile on your face. It is a great film to watch with family and friends.
3. Pariyerum Perumal (2018)
- Cast: Kathir, Anandhi, Yogi Babu
- Budget: ₹1 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹5 crore
- IMDb Rating: 9.0
Pariyerum Perumal is a social drama film directed by Mari Selvaraj. It tells the story of Pariyerum Perumal, a young man from a lower caste who is discriminated against by society. The film was praised for its powerful depiction of caste discrimination, its realistic portrayal of rural Tamil Nadu, and the performance of Kathir in the lead role.
Review: Pariyerum Perumal is a must-watch film for anyone who wants to understand the reality of caste discrimination in India. It is a powerful and moving film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.
4. Jai Bhim (2021)
- Cast: Suriya, Rajisha Vijayan, Prakash Raj
- Budget: ₹5 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹10 crore
- IMDb Rating: 9.6
Jai Bhim is a legal drama film directed by T. J. Gnanavel. It tells the story of Chandru, a lawyer who fights for the rights of a tribal man who is falsely accused of a crime. The film was praised for its powerful depiction of the injustice faced by marginalized communities, its realistic portrayal of the legal system, and the performance of Suriya in the lead role.
Review: Jai Bhim is a must-watch film for anyone who believes in justice and equality. It is a powerful and moving film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.
5. Soorarai Pottru (2020)
- Cast: Suriya, Aparna Balamurali, Paresh Rawal
- Budget: ₹25 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹50 crore
- IMDb Rating: 9.1
Soorarai Pottru is a biographical drama film directed by Sudha Kongara. It tells the story of G. R. Gopinath, the founder of the low-cost airline Air Deccan. The film was praised for its inspiring story, its realistic portrayal of the aviation industry, and the performance of Suriya in the lead role.
Review: Soorarai Pottru is a must-watch film for anyone who has a dream. It is an inspiring story about how one man overcame all odds to achieve his dream.
6. 96 (2018)
- Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Trisha
- Budget: ₹20 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹100 crore
- IMDb Rating: 8.7
96 is a romantic drama film directed by C. Prem Kumar. It tells the story of two ex-classmates, Ram and Jaanu, who meet again after 22 years. The film was praised for its heartwarming story, its realistic portrayal of nostalgia, and the performances of Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha Krishnan in the lead roles.
The film’s title refers to the year in which Ram and Jaanu graduated from school. When they meet again at their 22nd batch reunion, they are both very different people. Ram is a successful businessman, while Jaanu is a single mother who works as a school teacher. However, their old feelings for each other quickly resurface.
Review: 96 is a beautifully made film that explores the themes of love, loss, and second chances. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.
7. Kaithi (2019)
- Cast: Karthi, Narain, Dheena
- Budget: ₹15 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹25 crore
- IMDb Rating: 8.8
Kaithi is an action thriller film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. It tells the story of Dilli, an ex-convict who is released from prison for a day to attend his daughter’s funeral. However, he gets caught up in a police operation to transport a dangerous drug lord. The film was praised for its edge-of-the-seat action sequences, its realistic portrayal of the criminal underworld, and the performance of Karthi in the lead role.
Review: Kaithi is a must-watch film for fans of action thrillers. It is a well-made film with great performances and edge-of-the-seat action sequences.
8. Thevar Magan (1992)
- Cast: Kamal Haasan, Sivaji Ganesan, Revathi
- Budget: ₹5 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹10 crore
- IMDb Rating: 8.9
Thevar Magan is a drama film directed by Bharatiraja. It tells the story of Sakthivel, a young man from a lower caste who falls in love with a girl from an upper caste. The film was praised for its realistic portrayal of caste discrimination, its complex characters, and the performances of Kamal Haasan and Sivaji Ganesan.
Review: Thevar Magan is a must-watch film for anyone who wants to understand the reality of caste discrimination in India. It is a powerful and moving film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.
9. Asuran (2019)
- Cast: Dhanush, Manju Warrier, Pasupathy
- Budget: ₹20 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹100 crore
- IMDb Rating: 8.6
Asuran is a revenge drama film directed by Vetrimaaran. It tells the story of Sivasaamy, a farmer who seeks revenge against the landlord who has wronged him and his family. The film was praised for its powerful depiction of violence and revenge, its realistic portrayal of rural Tamil Nadu, and the performance of Dhanush in the lead role.
Review: Asuran is a must-watch film for fans of revenge dramas. It is a well-made film with a powerful story and great performances.
10. Visaaranai (2015)
- Cast: Samuthirakani, Dinesh Ravi, Murugadoss
- Budget: ₹2 crore
- Box Office Collection: ₹5 crore
- IMDb Rating: 9.1
Visaaranai is a crime thriller film directed by Vetrimaaran. It tells the story of four migrant workers who are tortured by the police for a crime they did not commit. The film was praised for its realistic portrayal of police brutality, its powerful performances, and its unflinching look at the dark side of Indian society.
Review: Visaaranai is a must-watch film for anyone who cares about social justice. It is a powerful and disturbing film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.
These are just a few of the many great Top 10 best Tamil movies of all time that have been made over the years. If you are a fan of Tamil cinema, or simply good cinema in general, I highly recommend checking out these films.