#1 of 16 #1 Tamil-language movie of 2012
2012 · Drama, Comedy
$15M worldwide · 68% of the chart's total
No US & Canada figure reported
Tamil box office · 2012
Tamil Box Office 2012: Highest-Grossing Tamil Movies
Nanban (2012) is the highest-grossing Tamil-language movie released in 2012, with $15M worldwide, ahead of Thuppakki (2012) at $2.1M and Maattrraan (2012) at $1.3M. 16 Tamil-language films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $21.9M in all, 3% of it from the US & Canada. That is 4.1 times the total of 2011, whose releases took $5.3M. By genre, Drama leads with $15.8M across 6 Tamil releases.
- 2012 releases with a gross
- 16
- combined worldwide
- $21.9M
- Nanban (2012), the #1
- $15M
- vs 2011
- ×4.1
#1 of 16 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Tamil Hits of 2012?
Nanban (2012) leads with $15M, 68% of the total. The top 5 together took $20.3M, 93% of what all 16 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Tamil Release of 2012, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2012.
- 1 Jan 13, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15M
- 2 Nov 13, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1M
- 3 Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M
- 4 Jul 13, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M
- 5 Jan 13, 2012 US and Canada: $204.4K Rest of the world: $483.3K Worldwide: $687.6K
- 6
Nov 13, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $515K - 7
Dec 14, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $501.4K - 8
Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $213.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $213.5K - 9
Aug 31, 2012 US and Canada: $101K Rest of the world: $31K Worldwide: $132K - 10
Jun 22, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $122.3K - 11
Sep 14, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $54.7K - 12
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $30.9K Rest of the world: $10.7K Worldwide: $41.6K - 13
Feb 17, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $22.6K - 14
Aug 2, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.9K - 15
Feb 17, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.6K - 16
Oct 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2012?
Of the top 10, Thaandavam (2012) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Vettai (2012) made 70% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $549.8K (3%) came from the US & Canada. 7 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Nanban (2012) $15M No US & Canada figure reported
- 2 Thuppakki (2012) $2.1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 Maattrraan (2012) $1.3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 Billa II (2012) $1.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Vettai (2012) $687.6K $204.4K US & Canada · 30% $483.3K elsewhere · 70%
- 6 Podaa Podi (2012) $515K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012) $501.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Thaandavam (2012) $213.5K $213.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Mugamoodi (2012) $132K $101K US & Canada · 77% $31K elsewhere · 23%
- 10 Saguni (2012) $122.3K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 16 films reached $100M. 15 films, 94% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $21.9M total.
68% 32%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 1 film, 6% of the list $15M · 68% of the gross
- Under $10M 15 films, 94% of the list $6.9M · 32% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2012 Earned the Most?
January releases took the most, $15.7M from 2 films, led by Nanban (2012). February was the quietest month ($29.2K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Nanban (2012) $15.7M Nanban (2012)
- February Feb Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal (2012) $29.2K Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal (2012)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Kalakalappu (2012) $41.6K Kalakalappu (2012)
- June Jun Saguni (2012) $122.3K Saguni (2012)
- July Jul Billa II (2012) $1.2M Billa II (2012)
- August Aug Mugamoodi (2012) $139.8K Mugamoodi (2012)
- September Sep Thaandavam (2012) $268.2K Thaandavam (2012)
- October Oct Maattrraan (2012) $1.3M Maattrraan (2012)
- November Nov Thuppakki (2012) $2.6M Thuppakki (2012)
- December Dec Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012) $501.4K Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012)
Last 10 years
How Does 2012 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2008 earned the most: $23M from 29 films, led by Dasavatharam (2008). 2012 took $21.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 1 film | 1 | $2M | – | Boys (2003) $2M |
| 2004 1 film · −92% | 1 | $164K | −92% | Ghilli (2004) $164K |
| 2005 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 2006 9 films | 9 | $277.8K | – | Sillunu Oru Kaadhal (2006) $70.6K |
| 2007 23 films · +1383% | 23 | $4.1M | +1383% | Azhagiya Tamil Magan (2007) $1M |
| 2008 29 films · +459% | 29 | $23M | +459% | Dasavatharam (2008) $16.4M |
| 2009 20 films · −69% | 20 | $7.1M | −69% | Aadhavan (2009) $1.6M |
| 2010 16 films · +23% | 16 | $8.8M | +23% | Enthiran (2010) $3.9M |
| 2011 18 films · −39% | 18 | $5.3M | −39% | Mankatha (2011) $1.1M |
| 2012 16 films · +313% | 16 | $21.9M | +313% | Nanban (2012) $15M |
By genre
Which Tamil Genres Earned the Most in 2012?
Drama took $15.8M across 6 films, 72% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($15.6M) and Action ($5.7M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
Archive
Tamil Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1965 to 2025 with its total and its biggest film. 2022 leads with $101.1M, led by Vikram (2022).
2020s 6 years · $157.8M
2010s 10 years · $191.3M
- 2019 $12.8M #1 Bigil (2019)
- 2018 $53.4M #1 2.0 (2018)
- 2017 $19.6M #1 Balloon (2017)
- 2016 $6.5M #1 Kabali (2016)
- 2015 $24.4M #1 Kanchana 2 (2015)
- 2014 $27.5M #1 Naan Sigappu Manithan (2014)
- 2013 $11.1M #1 Raja Rani (2013)
- 2012 $21.9M #1 Nanban (2012)
- 2011 $5.3M #1 Mankatha (2011)
- 2010 $8.8M #1 Enthiran (2010)
2000s 9 years · $38.1M
1990s 3 years · $31.6K
1980s 3 years · $25.3K
1960s 1 year · $443K
FAQ
Tamil Box Office 2012: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 16 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Tamil-language movie in 2012?
Nanban (2012) leads with $15M worldwide. Next come Thuppakki (2012) at $2.1M and Maattrraan (2012) at $1.3M.
How much did Tamil-language movies released in 2012 earn?
16 Tamil-language films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $21.9M in all, or $1.4M per film on average. 2011 releases took $5.3M.
How many Tamil-language movies released in 2012 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Nanban (2012), earned $15M.
How is the 2012 Tamil box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 2012. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.
How often is the 2012 Tamil box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.