Ajith Kumar’s upcoming film Good Bad Ugly is creating strong buzz just days ahead of its theatrical release on April 10, 2025, and expectations are soaring—not just among fans, but also within trade circles. Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, the film’s trailer, dropped on April 5, delivers a nostalgic high with Ajith’s iconic punchlines, nods to his past hits, and a clear return to his mass-action roots. The trailer also features appearances by Arjun Das, Simran, and a special throwback to Khushbu Sundar’s classic "Oththa Roova" track, giving the promo a fan-pleasing, celebratory feel.
According to trade expert Ramesh Bala, Good Bad Ugly is expected to open strong in Tamil Nadu, with a projected Day 1 gross of ₹35 crore. Thanks to the festive holiday stretch—Good Friday and Tamil New Year—there's potential for even greater weekend earnings. Worldwide, the film is expected to gross ₹60–70 crore in its opening run, with good overseas advance bookings already underway.
Bala also notes that Good Bad Ugly will benefit from a solo release in Tamil Nadu, while outside the state, it will face stiff competition from other regional films:
-
Malayalam: Bazooka (Mammootty), Alappuzha Gymkhana (Naslen), Maranamass (Basil Joseph)
-
Telugu: Jack
-
Hindi: Jaat (Sunny Deol)
While regional films will dominate their own markets, Good Bad Ugly could expand its reach based on word-of-mouth. Interestingly, both Jaat and Good Bad Ugly are backed by Mythri Movie Makers, suggesting strategic screen distribution is likely to avoid a direct clash.
2025 is a milestone year for Ajith fans as Good Bad Ugly follows the release of Vidaamuyarchi, making this Ajith’s second theatrical release in the same year. And with Good Bad Ugly bringing back his beloved "bad boy" image, it could outperform Vidaamuyarchi, which, though successful, was more intense and less masala-driven.
Here’s a look at the box office performance of Ajith’s last five films:
-
Vidaamuyarchi (2025)
-
Gross: ₹135.65 crore worldwide
-
Genre: Action-Thriller (based on 1997’s Breakdown)
-
Reception: Critically strong, commercially solid but not record-breaking
-
-
Thunivu (2023)
-
Gross: ₹200 crore worldwide
-
India: ₹144.1 crore | Overseas: ₹55.9 crore
-
Genre: Heist Thriller
-
Mixed reviews but major commercial success
-
-
Valimai (2022)
-
Though not listed here, Valimai was another big release with a gross of over ₹150 crore globally
-
-
Nerkonda Paarvai (2019)
-
Genre: Legal Drama (Pink remake)
-
Critical acclaim and solid commercial performance
-
-
Viswasam (2019)
-
Gross: ₹204.26 crore worldwide
-
Tamil Nadu: ₹157.26 crore | Overseas: ₹43 crore
-
Genre: Family drama with mass appeal
-
One of Ajith’s biggest hits to date
-
So the big question is—can Good Bad Ugly beat Viswasam and Thunivu to become Ajith Kumar’s highest-grossing film ever? With strong fan engagement, favorable timing, and nostalgic value, the odds are certainly in its favor.
