Vijay has a Box Office record that almost no one else in India can touch. Over the last thirty years, he’s gone from being a romantic hero to a massive global action star. Even though Vijay’s about to retire from acting for a full-time career in politics with his party, TVK, he is still one of the the biggest names in the industry. His final movie, Jana Nayagan, was supposed to be his big goodbye this week, but it’s currently stuck in a legal battle over its censor certificate.
According to India Today, this delay has forced the biggest refund in Indian movie history, with over Rs 1 crore being sent back to fans domestically and the film incurring losses of over Rs 50 crores due to cancellations. While everyone waits for the court to decide the fate of his final film, here’s a look at the massive blockbusters that turned him into the superstar he is today.
Leo (2023)
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Leo is currently the highest-grossing film of Vijay’s career. As per industry tracker Sacnilk, it earned over Rs 600 crore worldwide, officially entering the elite club of South Indian mega-hits. The film benefited from being part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) and saw massive collections in international markets – particularly in North America and the UK.
The Greatest of All Time (2024)
Popularly referred to as GOAT, this sci-fi action thriller was one of the biggest earners of 2024. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film grossed between Rs 450 crore and Rs 460 crore globally. As reported by NDTV, it set a record by making Vijay the first Tamil actor to have eight consecutive films cross the Rs 200 crore milestone.
Bigil (2019)
This sports action drama saw Vijay in a dual role as both a father and a son. It was a massive commercial success, earning approximately Rs 100 crore. Business Standard noted that Bigil was a landmark release as it was the first Tamil film to be released in markets like Egypt and Jordan, proving the actor’s growing international reach.
Varisu (2023)
Released during the busy Pongal festival season, Varisu made over Rs 300 crore worldwide and became one of the biggest hits of the year as per Sacnilk. Even though it had to compete with other massive releases at the box office, it managed to draw in huge crowds across India and overseas because of its sentimental, family-focused plot. This movie was a major milestone for Vijay because it proved he could still dominate the market with a traditional family entertainer, proving that his acting prowess stretched beyond just action roles.
Master (2021)
Master is often cited by theater owners as the film that saved the Tamil film industry after the pandemic lockdown. Despite 50% occupancy restrictions in theaters at the time, it grossed over Rs 300 crore according to Sacnilk. The face-off between Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi became a cultural moment, and the film’s soundtrack dominated charts for months.
Mersal (2017)
In Mersal, Vijay took on a rare triple role, playing a village wrestler and his two sons – one a doctor and the other a magician. The story follows the brothers as they team up to expose corruption in the medical industry. The movie became a huge talking point because it didn’t hold back, featuring bold lines about GST and the Digital India initiative. These scenes actually triggered protests from several political leaders, which ironically only made the film more famous. It ended up being a massive financial success, becoming Vijay’s first movie to break the Rs 250 crore mark and even winning “Best Foreign Language Film” at the National Film Awards UK.
Beast (2022)
Though it received mixed reviews from critics, Beast was a major commercial success. Verified reports from Sacnilk show it earned between Rs 216 crore and Rs 250 crore. While it is often overshadowed by other hits like Leo or GOAT, its opening day numbers were some of the highest ever seen in Tamil cinema at the time.
Thuppakki (2012)
This stylish action thriller directed by AR Murugadoss is the film that launched Vijay into the ‘modern’ era of superstardom. It was his first movie to enter the Rs 100 crore club. Fans and critics alike praised his portrayal of a sleek army officer, and the film remains one of the most re-watched entries in his filmography.
Ghilli (2004)
Long before the Rs 100 crore era, Ghilli was the film that made Vijay an undisputed ‘mass’ hero. It ran for over 200 days in theaters and was the first Tamil film to gross over Rs 50 crore at the domestic box office. Even decades later, its 2024 re-release saw record-breaking footfalls, nearly outperforming new releases in some regions with world wide collections of Rs 26 to Rs 32.50 crore as reported by Sacnilk.
Pokkiri (2007)
Directed by Prabhu Deva, Pokkiri was a massive ‘silver jubilee’ hit, meaning it completed a 250-day run at the box office. It was the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2007 with a world wide earning of Rs 70 crores and set the tone for the high-thrill action entertainers that “Thalapathy” Vijay would become known for in the following years.