Vijay established himself as a youth icon with soft romance and family dramas.

An emotional blockbuster that cemented his star status across South India, particularly in Kerala. 2. The Masala & Action Superstardom (2000–2010)

, directed by his father, S. A. Chandrasekhar. While his early films saw mixed results, he found his breakthrough in the mid-90s as a romantic lead. Breakthrough Hit: Poove Unakkaga

– A star-crossed romance drama.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, this film single-handedly revived the South Indian theatre industry post-pandemic, grossing over ₹300 crores.

– Directed by Vasanth, co-starring Suriya.

– An action-romance dealing with visual media ethics. Minsara Kanna (1999) – A lighthearted romantic comedy.

Directed by AR Murugadoss, this slick thriller about an army captain tracking sleeper cells became Vijay's first film to enter the elite ₹100 crore club.

(2023) : A family-oriented action drama directed by Vamshi Paidipally.

After a few average films ( Sura ), Vijay roared back with Velayudham and Nanban . But it was (2012) that redefined him—a thinking man’s action hero, earning massive critical and commercial success.

The early 2000s marked a pivotal shift in Vijay's career trajectory toward mass-action entertainers, beginning with the 2003 hit Thirumalai Record Breakers: (2004) became the first Tamil film to gross over ₹500 million at the domestic box office. Mass Hits: Successes like Thirupaachi (2005) and

, directed by his father S.A. Chandrasekhar. However, it was the late 1990s that cemented his status as a leading man through a series of romantic blockbusters. Films like Poove Unakkaga (1996) acted as a major breakthrough, while Kadhalukku Mariyadhai

The 2004 sports-action drama Ghilli was a monumental success, becoming the first Tamil film to cross ₹50 crore at the box office.

– A massive family-sentiment emotional entertainer directed by Vamshi Paidipally.

– A triple-role blockbuster that took his global box-office pull to unprecedented heights.

The Ultimate Thalapathy Vijay Tamil Movie List: From Romance to Box Office King

In 2024, Vijay announced his entry into politics with his party, , and confirmed he would quit acting after his final project.