Kantara to Coolie: top 10 highest-grossing South Indian films of 2025

The Malayalam film industry emerged as a standout performer in 2025, driven by major successes such as Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra and L2: Empuraan.

Overall, the Indian film industry enjoyed a remarkable year, offering a wide range of cinematic experiences—from large-scale historical epics to emotionally rich dramas. Films spanning multiple languages and genres captivated audiences both domestically and internationally. While Bollywood delivered several notable releases, South Indian cinema clearly dominated the global box office.

Among the regional industries, Malayalam cinema made a particularly strong impression with films like Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra and L2: Empuraan, once again demonstrating its storytelling depth and high production standards beyond regional borders. Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu industries also delivered major hits that achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim. Below is a look at the top 10 highest-grossing South Indian films of 2025.

Kantara: Chapter 1
Directed by Rishab Shetty, Kantara: Chapter 1 emerged as the highest-grossing South Indian film of the year. Produced on an estimated budget of Rs 125 crore, the film collected over Rs 852 crore worldwide. A prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, the film explores the origins of the Bhuta Kola tradition and the mythology of divine guardians, earning praise for its visuals, narrative depth, and action sequences.

Coolie
Starring Rajinikanth, Coolie was made on a reported budget of Rs 400 crore. Despite receiving mixed responses from audiences, the film managed to gross Rs 518 crore globally. The story follows a former gold smuggler seeking revenge, with Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj playing prominent roles.

Mahavatar Narsimha
Directed by Ashwin Kumar, Mahavatar Narsimha became India’s highest-grossing animated film. Produced on a modest budget of Rs 40 crore, the mythological epic earned Rs 326.82 crore worldwide. The film narrates the tale of Lord Vishnu’s Narasimha avatar and his battle against demon king Hiranyakashipu to protect Prahlada.

Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra
A landmark film for Malayalam cinema, Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra became the first Malayalam movie to cross Rs 300 crore globally. Produced by Dulquer Salmaan on a budget of approximately Rs 30 crore, the film stars Kalyani Priyadarshan and follows a mysterious woman who discovers supernatural abilities after surviving a near-fatal bat bite.

They Call Him OG
Starring Pawan Kalyan, They Call Him OG earned Rs 293.65 crore worldwide and recorded exceptional overseas performance, including a record-breaking North American premiere. Spanning timelines from 1940s Japan to 1990s Mumbai, the film centers on Ojas Gambheera, also known as OG, who returns after a decade to reclaim his criminal empire and confront rival gangster Omi Bhau.

L2: Empuraan
The second installment in the Lucifer trilogy, L2: Empuraan starred Mohanlal alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and Manju Warrier. Produced on a budget of around Rs 175 crore, the film collected Rs 266.81 crore globally. The story follows crime lord Khureshi Ab’raam as he returns to Kerala amid political instability and rising extremist forces led by antagonist Balraj.

Sankrathiki Vastunam
Released in January 2025, Sankrathiki Vastunam quickly rose to become one of the year’s top-grossing South Indian films, earning Rs 255.2 crore worldwide. Starring Venkatesh Daggubati, Aishwarya Rajesh, and Meenakshi Chaudhary, the film revolves around a retired police officer pulled back into action to rescue a kidnapped tech tycoon, with unexpected comedic twists involving his wife and former lover.

Thudarum
Thudarum marked the reunion of Mohanlal and Shobana after 15 years. The film tells the story of a humble taxi driver from Pathanamthitta who shares a deep emotional bond with his old Ambassador car. The narrative takes a darker turn when the car is seized during a drug-related investigation. The film grossed over Rs 234.5 crore worldwide.

Good Bad Ugly
Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, Good Bad Ugly starred Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, and Arjun Das. Ajith portrayed a former gangster striving for a peaceful life but forced back into violence after his son is falsely accused of a crime. Made on a budget of around Rs 300 crore, the film earned Rs 248.25 crore globally.

Su From So
The Kannada horror-comedy Su From So emerged as an unexpected breakout hit in 2025. Set in the coastal village of Marlur, the film follows a carefree young man who pretends to be possessed by a ghost named Sulochana to escape trouble, triggering chaos as villagers conduct bizarre exorcisms. The film earned Rs 122.83 crore worldwide and received widespread critical appreciation.