The Best Rajnikanth Movies

Over 1.0K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Rajnikanth Movies
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Over a thousand movie fans have united to curate this definitive list of Rajnikanth movies, from the best to the worst. For those unacquainted with Indian cinema's superstar, Rajnikanth is an icon in his own right, known for his larger-than-life presence and charismatic performances that have captured audiences' hearts for decades. This list encompasses some of his most famous works and features everything from comedy to action-packed thrillers.

Rajnikanth rose to fame in Tamil cinema during the 1980s when he started playing lead roles in blockbuster films such as Baasha and Annamalai. He quickly became one of India's highest-paid actors and was dubbed "Superstar" by fans worldwide. His incredible range as an actor has given him a cult following among both domestic and international audiences.

The entries on this list are ranked based on their popularity, critical acclaim, box office success, and overall legacy. It includes some classics like Muthu (1995), which was dubbed into Japanese and went on to become yet another hit overseas; Enthiran (2010), where he plays a scientist who creates an android; Kabali (2016) - about a don who fights against injustice done against Tamilians living abroad- is also featured prominently.

With so many great options available, it can be tough deciding which film deserves the top spot. So go ahead - take a look at our ranking below and cast your vote for your favorite Rajnikanth movie.

Ranked by
  • Thalapathi
    1
    Rajinikanth, Mammootty, Amrish Puri
    215 votes
    • Released: 1991
    • Directed by: Mani Ratnam
    Thalapathi is a 1991 Indian Tamil drama film written and directed by Mani Ratnam and produced by G. Venkateswaran under the banner of G. V. Films. It stars Rajinikanth, Mammootty and Shobana in the ...more
  • Thillu Mullu
    2
    Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Madhavi
    126 votes
    • Released: 1981
    • Directed by: K. Balachander
    Thillu Mullu is a 1981 Tamil comedy film directed by K. Balachander. The film features Rajinikanth, Madhavi in lead roles while 'Thengai' Srinivasan, Nagesh, and Sowkar Janaki play supporting roles. ...more
  • Annamalai
    3
    Rajinikanth, Meena, Rekha Mallick
    121 votes
    • Released: 1992
    • Directed by: Suresh Krissna
    Annamalai is a 1992 Tamil film directed by Suresh Krishna, starring Rajinikanth, Kushboo and Sarath Babu in the lead roles. It is a remake of Krishnam Raju's movie Prana Snehitulu, which was a remake ...more
  • Baashha
    4
    Rajinikanth, Vijayakumar, Nagma
    218 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: Suresh Krissna
    Baashha is a 1995 Indian Tamil action drama film starring Rajinikanth, Nagma and Raghuvaran. The film was directed by Suresh Krissna, and features music by Deva. Rajinikanth won Filmfans Association ...more
  • Padayappa
    5
    Rajinikanth, Prakash Raj, Nassar
    191 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: K. S. Ravikumar
    Padayappa is a 1999 Indian Tamil drama film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. The film features Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya in the lead roles, while Abbas, ...more
  • Mullum Malarum
    6
    Rajinikanth, Shobha, Venniradai Moorthy
    119 votes
    • Released: 1978
    • Directed by: J. Mahendran
    Mullum Malarum is a 1978 Indian Tamil drama film directed by J. Mahendran and produced by Venu Chettiar. The film, which features Rajinikanth, Sarath Babu, Fatafat Jayalaxmi and Shoba, marked ...more

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