#1 of 22 #1 Tamil-language movie of 2021
2021 · Drama, Action
$3.8M worldwide · 40% of the chart's total
No US & Canada figure reported
Tamil box office · 2021
Tamil Box Office 2021: Highest-Grossing Tamil Movies
Karnan (2021) is the highest-grossing Tamil-language movie released in 2021, with $3.8M worldwide, ahead of Eeswaran (2021) at $1.4M and Rudra Thandavam (2021) at $1.1M. 22 Tamil-language films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $9.6M in all. That is up 93% on 2020, whose releases took $5M. By genre, Action leads with $8.5M across 12 Tamil releases.
- 2021 releases with a gross
- 22
- combined worldwide
- $9.6M
- Karnan (2021), the #1
- $3.8M
- vs 2020
- +93%
#1 of 22 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Tamil Hits of 2021?
Karnan (2021) leads with $3.8M, 40% of the total. The top 5 together took $7.7M, 80% of what all 22 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 2021, 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 2021.
- 1 Apr 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.8M
- 2 Jan 15, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M
- 3 Oct 1, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M
- 4 Sep 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $791.7K
- 5 Oct 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $583.6K
- 6
Nov 24, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $565.8K - 7
Feb 5, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $453K - 8
Jan 28, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $302.6K - 9
Apr 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $232.1K - 10
Nov 4, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $230.3K - 11
Oct 14, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $45.8K - 12
Sep 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $31.6K - 13
Sep 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $22.8K - 14
Mar 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.2K - 15
Nov 4, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.2K - 16
Sep 30, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.6K - 17
Feb 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.8K - 18
Dec 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4K - 19
Dec 31, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2K - 20
Jun 25, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6K - 21
Dec 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 22
Nov 19, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $479
Gross bands
How Many 2021 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 22 films reached $100M. 22 films, 100% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $9.6M total.
100%
- $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- Under $10M 22 films, 100% of the list $9.6M · 100% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2021 Earned the Most?
April releases took the most, $4M from 2 films, led by Karnan (2021). June was the quietest month ($1.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Eeswaran (2021) $1.7M Eeswaran (2021)
- February Feb Kalathil Santhippom (2021) $458.8K Kalathil Santhippom (2021)
- March Mar Kaadan (2021) $12.2K Kaadan (2021)
- April Apr Karnan (2021) $4M Karnan (2021)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Methagu (2021) $1.6K Methagu (2021)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Thalaivii (2021) $852.7K Thalaivii (2021)
- October Oct Rudra Thandavam (2021) $1.7M Rudra Thandavam (2021)
- November Nov Maanaadu (2021) $807.8K Maanaadu (2021)
- December Dec Jail (2021) $8.7K Jail (2021)
Last 10 years
How Does 2021 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2018 earned the most: $53.4M from 40 films, led by 2.0 (2018). 2021 took $9.6M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 16 films | 16 | $21.9M | – | Nanban (2012) $15M |
| 2013 17 films · −49% | 17 | $11.1M | −49% | Raja Rani (2013) $2.7M |
| 2014 14 films · +148% | 14 | $27.5M | +148% | Naan Sigappu Manithan (2014) $12.7M |
| 2015 17 films · −12% | 17 | $24.4M | −12% | Kanchana 2 (2015) $17.6M |
| 2016 37 films · −73% | 37 | $6.5M | −73% | Kabali (2016) $4.4M |
| 2017 39 films · +203% | 39 | $19.6M | +203% | Balloon (2017) $11.8M |
| 2018 40 films · +173% | 40 | $53.4M | +173% | 2.0 (2018) $36.9M |
| 2019 59 films · −76% | 59 | $12.8M | −76% | Bigil (2019) $2.4M |
| 2020 12 films · −61% | 12 | $5M | −61% | Walter (2020) $2.8M |
| 2021 22 films · +93% | 22 | $9.6M | +93% | Karnan (2021) $3.8M |
By genre
Which Tamil Genres Earned the Most in 2021?
Action took $8.5M across 12 films, 88% of the total, ahead of Drama ($6.1M) and Family ($2.1M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2021 Tamil Box Office by Genre
-
Action $8.5M12 films · #1 Karnan (2021) -
Drama $6.1M14 films · #1 Karnan (2021) -
Family $2.1M3 films · #1 Eeswaran (2021) -
Thriller $1.7M5 films · #1 Doctor (2021) -
Romance $1.6M3 films · #1 Eeswaran (2021) -
Comedy $633.2K4 films · #1 Doctor (2021) -
Sci-Fi $565.8K1 film · #1 Maanaadu (2021) -
Crime $302.6K1 film · #1 Kabadadaari (2021) -
Horror $45.8K1 film · #1 Aranmanai 3 (2021)
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 2021: 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 22 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Tamil-language movie in 2021?
Karnan (2021) leads with $3.8M worldwide. Next come Eeswaran (2021) at $1.4M and Rudra Thandavam (2021) at $1.1M.
How much did Tamil-language movies released in 2021 earn?
22 Tamil-language films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $9.6M in all, or $437.7K per film on average. 2020 releases took $5M.
How many Tamil-language movies released in 2021 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Karnan (2021), earned $3.8M.
How is the 2021 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 2021. 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 2021 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.