Despite viewers’ anticipation and star values, the film’s success counts on the average number of critics’ reviews. Some quiet releases have become famous among the many big-ticket releases and well-promoted movies after getting regular acclaim from critics and audiences. This page offers you the best Tamil movies of 2022 based on the critic rating for movie lovers who want to catch the best Tamil movies on one page. Here is the list of the ten best Tamil films of the year — in what was a fantastic year at the theatres. The year 2022 saw some incredible hits from Ponniyin Selvan: 1 to Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.
Table of Contents
Top 20 Best Tamil Movies of 2022 to Watch Online
Movie Name | IMDB Rating | OTT Platform |
Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 | 7.9 | Amazon Prime Video |
Vikram | 8.4 | Disney+ Hotstar |
Gargi | 8.1 | SonyLiv |
Gatta Kusthi | 7.2 | Netflix |
Love Today | 8.3 | Netflix |
Beast | 5.2 | Netflix |
Mahaan | 7.6 | Amazon Prime Video |
Viruman | 4.9 | Amazon Prime Video |
Etharkkum Thunindhavan | 6.5 | Netflix |
Maaran | 4.4 | Disney+ Hotstar |
Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu | 7.4 | Amazon Prime Video |
Don | 6.9 | Netflix |
Naane Varuven | 6.3 | Amazon Prime Video |
Cobra | 6.2 | SonyLiv |
Cadaver | 6.6 | Disney+ Hotstar |
FIR | 7 | Amazon Prime Video |
Oh My Dog | 6.6 | Amazon Prime Video |
Taanakkaran | 8.1 | Disney+ Hotstar |
Kuttram Kuttrame | 6.2 | Amazon Prime Video |
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect | 8.8 | Amazon Prime Video |
Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1
The Chola kingdom is under threat from forces, both internal and external. Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan is a sprawling epic that has remained inaccessible to film for many Tamil filmmakers. Mani Ratnam finally brings it to life in this breathtaking adaptation that captures the book’s conspiracy, thrills, and page-turning quality. In Part 1 of this two-part franchise, the director and his writers — Jeyamohan and Ilango Kumaravel — rise to the challenge. They have crystallized the novel without losing sight of its appeal. They have made changes—like Kundhavai storming into a secret discussion—that add to the narrative’s momentum. The emperor, Nandhini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), Karikalan’s former lover and wife of Periya Pazhuvettarayar, is determined to bring down all of the Chola empire for reasons of her own.
The movie was released in theatres on September 30th, 2022, and released on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video on November 4th, 2022.
Cast: Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, and others.
Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 OTT Release Date: November 4th, 2022
Duration: 2h 7 minutes
Genre: Action, Historical Drama, Family
Where to Watch Online: Amazon Prime Video
Also Read: Best Malayalam Movies of 2022 to Watch Online: Star Cast, Storyline, IMBD Rating and More
Vikram
Watching the remake of the 1986 original Vikram was, in a way, a put-off for the fans of Kamal Hassan. The fans waited with bated breath to see their favorite actor make a comeback after six long years. To heap more sorrow upon sorrow, the swashbuckler made an entry in the second half of the movie, after the interval. Lokesh Kanagaraj, after his pure genre films Master and thrilling Kaithi Vikram, is a serious departure. It was full of more promise than performance. The movie had its theatrical release on June 3rd, 2022, whereas it was later released on July 8th, 2022, on the OTT platform Disney Hotstar.
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Narain, and others.
Vikram OTT Release Date: July 8th, 2022
Duration: 2h 53m
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Where to Watch Online: Disney+ Hotstar
Gargi
The film is about a young woman fighting legally to save her father, who is accused of child sexual molestation. Undoubtedly, it’s a beautifully shot, forthright social issue drama that unfolds more like a tense thriller and ends up as a ‘must-watch’ film. The theme is layered and catches the intricacies of a sex crime case. The director does justice to the characters, although we travel with the protagonist Gargi. It’s a well-rounded approach by Gautham Ramachandran when he shows alongside the impulsive arrest of Gargi’s father by the police also the problems faced by the cops. The trauma, the survivor and her family experience, and even the compulsions that push journalists to sensationalize such crimes, are well accommodated.
Cast: Sai Pallavi, Kaali Venkat, RS Shivaji, Kavithalaya Krishnan, and others.
Gargi OTT Release Date: July 15th, 2022
Duration: 2h 30m
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Where to Watch Online: SonyLiv
Gatta Kusthi
It is a movie that revolves around a man who wants a timid, subservient wife, unaware that he has married a wrestler. What happens when he learns the truth about her?
With an exciting start to the whistle-worthy massy interval blocks of the year, Keerthi (Aishwarya Lekshmi) gets many moments that are usually reserved for the hero in our films. The character gets sidelined and has little to do in the second half. The focus later shifts to Veera (Vishnu Vishal), who realizes his error and gets a chance to prove himself. Chella Ayyavu doesn’t valourize Keerthi’s comeback but uses these sequences to discuss gender inequality in our society. That he manages to do this not with sermons but with laughs and hard-hitting lines is his success.Will they come to terms despite all differences and opinions?
Cast: Aishwarya Lekshmi (Keerthi), Vishnu (Veera), Shravanthi Sainath
Gatta Kushti OTT Release Date: December 2nd, 2022
Duration: 2h 24m
Genre: Drama
Where to Watch Online: Netflix
Also Read: Best Telugu Movies of 2022 to Watch Online: RRR, Sita Ramam, Bimbisara and More
Love Today
A young couple is made to exchange their phones for a day. A hilarious and emotional sequence follows that puts their lives in misery. The best thing about Love Today is that it’s relatable—it has regular, flawed characters trying to improve at its center. The trouble begins when Pradeep and Nikitha discover some dark secrets about each other. While Pradeep explores Nikitha’s phone in the first half of the film, Nikitha finds out that her boyfriend is worse than she ever imagined in the second. Will they come to terms despite all differences and opinions?
Cast: Pradeep Ranganathan, Ivana, Yogi Babu, Raveena Ravi.
Love Today OTT Release Date: December 2nd, 2022
Duration: 2h 34m
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Where to Watch Online: Netflix
Beast
The plot revolves around Former RAW agent Veera must overcome his fears when a terrorist organisation takes him hostage in a mall along with other visitors. The terrorists demand the release of their leader, who was captured by Veera. Can Veera save the hostages and defeat the terrorists? It has been directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. The movie was released in theatres on April 13th, 2022, and later released on Netflix on May 11th, 2022.
Cast: Joseph Vijay, Pooja Hegde, K. Selvaraghavan, Shine Tom Chacko, and others.
Beast OTT Release Date: May 11th, 2022
Duration: 2h 36m
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
Where to Watch Online: Netflix
Mahaan
Karthik Subbaraj’s film “Gandhi Mahaan” follows the story of a school teacher who chooses to live his life on his own terms, despite resistance from his family. They eventually disown him, but he continues to live his life the way he wants. On his journey of self-discovery, he becomes a pride billionaire but faces many challenges. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on February 10th, 2022.
Cast: Vikram, Simran, Dhruv Vikram, Bobby Simha, and others.
Mahaan OTT Release Date: February 10th, 2022
Duration: 2h 42m
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Where to Watch Online: Amazon Prime Video
Viruman
The plot of the movie revolves around a man who is seeking revenge from his father.The intrepid and good-hearted son fights to make his arrogant father pay the price for his sins, which includes his mother’s death. He also tries to save his brothers from the man’s grip. He wants his father to pay for all the bad things he has done, which includes the death of his mother. The movie was released in theatres on August 31st, 2022 and on Amazon Prime Video on September 11th, 2022.
Cast: Arundhati, Manoj K. Bharathi, Manoj Bharathiraja, Ilavarasu, and others.
Viruman OTT Release Date: September 11th, 2022
Duration: 149 minutes
Genre: Action, Drama
Where to Watch Online: Amazon Prime Video
Etharkkum Thunindhavan
Etharkkum Thunindhavan/The Forest Of The Narrative is a new upcoming movie set to release in 2022. It’s directed by Pandiraj and it tells the story of a lawyer who’s seeking revenge and justice against a group of criminals. The criminals had threatened to release confidential videos of the lawyer and many other women online. The exciting film will be available on Netflix from April 7th, 2022. It’s already gaining popularity and has won several awards at the box office!
Cast: Suriya, Priyanka Arulmohan, Sathyaraj, Saranya Ponvannan, and others.
Etharkkum Thunindhavan OTTRelease Date: April 7th, 2022
Duration: 2h 31m
Genre: Action, Drama, Crime
Where to Watch Online: Netflix
Also Read: Best Thriller Movies on Netflix
Maaran
‘Dhruva Natchathiram’ is a Tamil political thriller film written and directed by Karthick Naren. The story revolves around a journalist named Maaran, who, as part of an expose on election rigging by a politician named Pazhani, receives death threats. By exposing a fraud committed by politician Pazhani, journalist Mathimaaaran lands himself in hot water – not just threatening his career prospects, but also endangering his family’s safety. The film was released on the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar on March 11th, 2022.
Cast: Dhanush, Malavika Mohanan, Samuthirakani and Smruthi Venkat.
Maaran OTT Release Date: March 11th, 2022
Duration: 2h 10m
Genre: Action, Thriller
Where to Watch Online: Disney+ Hotstar
Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu
This movie revolves around the story of Muthu, a lower-caste man who moves to Mumbai in search of a better life, but instead becomes involved in the city’s Tamil gangster scene and illegal activities, is brought to life by directors Gautham Vasudev Menon and Lee Whittaker. The movie was released in theatres on September 15th, 2022, and became available on Amazon Prime Video on October 13th, 2022.
Cast: Silambarasan Rajendar, Siddhi Idani, Radhika Sarathkumar, Appukutty, and others.
Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu OTT Release Date: October 13th, 2022
Duration: 3h
Genre: Action, Drama, Crime
Where to Watch Online: Amazon Prime Video
Don
Cibi Chakravarthi’s film, “Chakravarthi”, is about a man who is also a director. The film follows him as he travels to his old college and tells stories about his school days. He also shares some other personal information along the way. “Chakravarthi” was released in theaters on May 13th, 2022, and was later added to Netflix’s streaming service on June 10th, 2022.
Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Priyanka Arulmohan, SJ Suryah, Samuthirakani, and others.
Don OTT Release Date: June 10th, 2022
Duration: 165 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Where to Watch Online: Netflix
Naane Varuven
K. Selvaraghavan’s movie revolves around the life of Prabhu, a man who would do anything to keep his family safe. However, his life changes when his daughter Satya is possessed by a ghost. Later, it turns out to be the ghost of a little boy murdered years ago in front of Satya’s eyes. The movie was released in theatres on September 29th, 2022 and on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video on October 27th, 2022.
Cast: Dhanush, Prabhu, Indhuja Ravichandran, Elli Avrram, and others.
Naane Varuven OTT Release Date: October 27th, 2022
Duration: 122 minutes
Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
Where to Watch Online : Amazon Prime Video
Cobra
The film, directed by R. Ajay Gnanmuthu, is about a man named Mathi who is not only a genius mathematician but also a criminal known as Cobra. A mathematician genius, Mathi, also known as Cobra, who commits intelligent crimes using Maths. Using his knowledge of mathematics, Cobra commits crimes. The movie was released in theatres on August 31st, 2022 and was later released on SonyLiv on September 28th, 2022.
Cast: Vikram, Irfan Pathan, Srinidhi Shetty, KS Ravikumar, and others.
Cobra OTT Release Date: September 28th, 2022
Duration: 3h 3m
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Where to Watch Online : SonyLiv
Cadaver
The plot of the movie revolves around the murder of a high-profile individual that has the police baffled, especially when a prison inmate claims responsibility and promises more deaths. Will police surgeon Bhadra be able to crack this mystery?. Directed by Anoop Panicker, It’s interesting to watch how Bhadra, responsible for investigating this case, figures things out. The movie was released on the OTT platform Disney+ Hotsar on August 12th, 2022.
Cast: Amala Paul, Riythvika Panneerselvam, Munishkanth, Harish Uthaman, and others.
Cadaver OTT Release Date: August 12th, 2022
Duration: 2h 3m
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Drama
Where to Watch Online: Disney+ Hotstar
FIR
The Manu Anand-directed film follows the life of an innocent man named Irfan who has been accused of crimes he did not commit. He is an ordinary young man who gets caught up in a terrorism case and is dubbed evil by the media and, as a result, the public. But what if the truth turns out to be different from what’s been perceived? It is interesting to see if he is innocent or hiding his true identity from the world. The movie was released in theatres on February 11th, 2022, and later released on Amazon Prime Video.
Cast: Vishnu Vishal, Manjima Mohan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Reba Monica John, and others.
FIR OTT Release Date: February 11th, 2022
Duration: 156 minutes
Genre: Action, Thriller
Where to Watch Online: Amazon Prime Video
Oh My Dog
A young and mischievous child leads a happy life with his family despite their financial crises. However, when he finds a lost puppy that cannot see, the dog upends everyone’s lives. The child must find a way to care for the puppy and keep him safe, even though his family is struggling to make ends meet. This heartwarming story shows how the power of love can change everything.The film, directed by Sarov Shanmugam. Despite the challenges he faces from his parents who don’t approve of him taking care of an animal without their permission, Arjun persists. The movie was released on Amazon Prime Video on April 21st, 2022.
Cast: Arun Vijay, Arnav Vijay, Vinay Rai, Mahima Nambiar, and others.
Oh My Dog OTT Release Date: April 21st, 2022
Duration: 2h 1min
Genre: Drama, Family
Where to Watch Online: Amazon Prime Video
Taanakkaran
Directed by Tamizh, the plot is set in 1999 and revolves around the life of a young police officer Arivu. Arivu is sent away for training. He soon befriends several older colleagues who cannot join because they did not pass political muster. When one of the older men is brutally treated by inspector Muthupandi, Arivu steps in to take a stand for his friend. Muthupandi threatens him and his colleagues that they will not allow him to pass training. They face the wrath of a ruthless police officer, Eshwaramurthy. However, this strict inspector’s main goal is to demotivate and punish the entire batch. Arivu and his friends won’t give up so easily though, and they’ll do whatever it takes to survive Eshwaramurthy’s schemes.The movie was released on the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar on April 8th, 2022.
Cast: Vikram Prabhu, Anbuarasan, MS Bhaskar, Lal, and others.
Taanakkaran OTT Release Date: April 8th, 2022
Duration: 2h 35m
Genre: Drama, Sport
Where to Watch Online: Disney+ Hotstar
Kuttram Kuttrame
Senthil’s film tells the story of a family living in a village whose lives are forever changed when they experience a harrowing event. Kuttram Kuttrame, directed by Susienthiran, might be called phase 2 of the Susienthiran Cinematic Universe. After a few lackluster films, Susienthiran is back with a film that is very much set in the same universe as his 2021 film, Eeswaran. Incidentally, the protagonist is also named Eeswaran, and the film stars Bharathiraaja in a pivotal, albeit different role. The film begins with three deaths that occur over two decades but are connected by the date. The movie was made available to stream on Amazon Prime Video on April 14th, 2022.
Cast: Alex, Aruldoss, Anna Bharathi, Bharatiraja, and others.
Kuttram Kuttrame OTT Release Date: April 14th, 2022
Duration: 1h 47m
Genre: Action, Drama
Where to Watch Online: Amazon Prime Video
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
Madhavan’s movie tells the story of an Indian scientist who was falsely accused of spying and arrested while working at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Nambi Narayanan’s life is one of both struggle and accomplishment as an aerospace engineer. But he faces his most difficult challenge while working at ISRO when the world unjustly accuses him of treason.He continues to fight for justice, and those who accused him suffer for their wrongdoing. The movie was released in theatres on July 1st, 2022, and later made available on Amazon Prime Video on July 26th, 2022.
Cast: Madhavan, Simran, Rajit Kapoor, Ravi Raghavendra, and others.
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect OTT Release Date: July 26th, 2022
Duration: 2h 57m
Genre: Biography, Drama
Where to Watch Online: Amazon Prime Video