Introduction
Tamil film star Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, better known as Vijay, took to acting in 1984. Over a course of four decades, he went from child actor to mass hero. This list, which we have compiled, features his top 10 movies between 1984 and 2025, chosen for their impact, box office success, and fan appeal.
1. Naaalaiya Theerpu (1992).
Vijay, at age 18, starred in Naalaiya Theerpu, and it was also his father’s direction, which he took up. The film, which saw Vijay’s launch as a hero, had the audience paying attention to his screen presence, his youthfulness, and the earnestness of his acting. Critics at the time also recognised in this very early stage great promise in him. Although the film’s box office performance wasn’t sensational, what it did do was prove that Vijay could lead a film to success.
2. Ghili (2004).
In Ghilli, Vijay gave a powerful performance as Saravanavelu, a Kabaddi player involved in rescue missions and romance. The film had action, emotion and dance elements. It raised Vijay’s mass appeal greatly. Ghilli also did well at the box office in Tamil Nadu and among the overseas Tamil community. The film secured his image as an action hero with charm.
3. Puchchi (2007).
Vijay did a stylish turn as an underworld character in Pokkiri. He did rough action well, which also saw elements of audience-pleasing humour and songs. The film had that cool factor, pacy dialogue, and strong visual appeal, which fans went for. Also, a large part of what made this film a hit was Vijay’s ability to handle a high-scale action masala, and it became a fan favourite.
4. Thuppakki in 2012.
He starred in Thuppakki as an Indian Army man who takes on sleeper cells. The movie had elements of patriotism, fast-paced action and complex villainy. Vijay left critics and audiences at large impressed with his intense performance. Thuppai did very well at the box office, and also what he did, which took his appeal across the nation. Also, it improved his image in other industries beyond that of Tamil film.
5. Kaththi (2014), which also did a run in the industry.
In the film Kaththi, which saw Vijay play two roles, he brought out issues of corporate exploitation and those of the farmer. Also, he did very well in putting in social messages to go along with mass entertainment. The film had strong dialogue as well as emotional scenes. It did very well with both rural and urban audiences. From this point on in his career, Vijay began to include more message into his action and glamour, which also did very well at the box office.
6. Mersal (2017) reported.
A magician, a doctor, and their father figure. He did what no one before him could: balance humour, action, and social commentary. In terms of the issues that he brought out, medical malpractice and consumer rights, he also did not shy away from putting these out there. Mersal was a major hit at the box office, also setting a new standard for production in his films.
7. Bigel (2019).
Vijay, in the role of Michael, a former footballer who turned into a women’s football team coach, brought out great emotion and mass appeal in Bigil. He played father and son roles to promote gender equality. The film had large-scale sports scenes, songs, and strong crowd moments. Bigil also saw great box office success.
8. Empire (2021).
After the COVID-19 shutdowns, Vijay came back to Master. He played JD, a broken teacher who goes up against a baddie who is using kids. The film had sharp dialogues, mass appeal and did well with audiences who were hungry for stage experience. Master brought back Vijay’s relevance and also proved that his fan base was still large even in tough production times.
9. In 2023 (Leo).
In the film Leo, which also marks a collaboration between Vijay and director Lokesh Kanagaraj. He took on the role of Parthiban, a cafe owner from the past who had to open up to a gang and their crimes. The film did well with its very well-thought-out action scenes and raw storytelling. Leo broke box office records, which in turn took Vijay’s career out into the national market. What made it stand out was its mature theme and very intense moments.
10. The One of All Time (OOAT) (2024).
Vijay in The Greatest of All Time, which also goes by the name of GOAT, played dual roles of a hostage negotiator and also as an anti-terrorism squad leader named Gandhi. The film was a mix of sci-fi, action, and thriller elements. In terms of scale of production, spectacle and box office collection, made GOAT it one of his biggest hits. Though there was some criticism of the writing, the film did do well in terms of creating spectacle and, in turn, in the end, strengthened Vijay’s star status.
Honorable Mentions & Looking Ahead (2025+)
While these ten films, which are from his past, Vijay has in the pipeline, Jana Nayagan for 2025. Fans look forward to him doing it again with a great performance and patriotic energy. From 1984’s Vetri to the GOAT, we see a consistent growth, experimentation and influence.
Conclusion
These ten films in total range from romance to action, social issues to mass entertainment and spectacle. They showcase Vijay’s versatility, charm, and ability to stay current with what the audience wants. They played a role in building his legacy as “Ilayathalapathy” and now “Thalapathy,” becoming one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars.
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