Kannada cinema is a part of Indian cinema based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The films are made primarily in Kannada-language. The 2006 film Mungaru Male is the first Kannada movie to gross 50 crores. The 2017 film Raajakumara is the first Kannada movie to gross ₹75 crore mark.
KGF: Chapter 1 (2018) is the first Kannada film to achieve ₹100, ₹150, ₹200 and ₹250 crore gross milestone. Its sequel KGF: Chapter 2 (2022) is the first Kannada film to achieve ₹500, ₹750, ₹1,000 and ₹1,250 crore gross milestones. Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) was reported to be the first film to gross over ₹200 crore as well as ₹250 crore within Karnataka. This ranking lists the highest-grossing Kannada films which are filmed in Kannada language, based on conservative global box office estimates as reported by organisations classified as green by Wikipedia. However, there is no official tracking of figures.
Highest-grossing films
RankTitleWorldwide gross Year1 KGF: Chapter 2 2022 2 Kantara: Chapter 1 20253 Kantara 2022 4Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups 2026 5KGF: Chapter 1 2018 6 Vikrant Rona20227James 8Su From So 2025 9777 Charlie 2022 10 Kurukshetra 2019
Films excluded from the list: In case of Kaatera (2023), the box-office collection range is considered from ₹67 crores to ₹200 crores due to wide variation in the box-office figures reported by various sources. Since the 10th ranked film has a gross in excess of the lower end range of ₹67 crores considered for Kaatera, the same has been excluded from the list. Bollywood Hungama gave a domestic gross figure of ₹67 crores. Deccan Herald reported its collections to be less than ₹90 crores. The Hindu and Zee Media Corporation reported the collections to be over ₹100 crores while other websites reported the collections to be ₹200 crores amidst speculation of tampering box office reports by HT Media. Roberrt (2021) is excluded from the list because three years after its theatrical run, the producer admitted to have fabricated its collections and had inflated the figures earlier; revealing the actual collection to be only ₹55 crores as against the trade estimate of 78 crores at the time of its release.
Highest-grossing films by opening week
RankTitleWorldwide grossYear1KGF: Chapter 220222 Kantara: Chapter 120253Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups20264Vikrant Rona20225James20226KGF: Chapter 120187Avane Srimannarayana20198Kantara20229777 Charlie
The Villain (2018), Pogaru (2021), Roberrt (2021) and Kaatera (2023) are excluded from the list on account of ambiguity and mismatch in weekly and final collections.
Highest-grossing films by month MonthTitleWorldwide grossYearJanuaryKranti2023FebruaryPogaru2021MarchJames₹151 crore2022AprilKGF: Chapter 2₹1,200–1,250 croreMayMaanikya2014June777 Charlie₹105–115 crore2022JulyVikrant Rona2022AugustToxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups₹341.39 crore2026SeptemberKantara₹400–450 crore2022October Kantara: Chapter 1 ₹850–852 crore2025November Bhairathi Ranagal2024Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna2012DecemberKGF: Chapter 1₹250 crore2018
Films with highest footfalls RankTitleFootfallsYear1KGF: Chapter 25.05 crore20222 Kantara: Chapter 13.20 crore20253Kantara1 crore20224KGF: Chapter 175 lakh20185Raajakumara65 lakh20176Su From So40 lakh2025
Highest-grossing milestone films The films with a minimum worldwide gross of ₹20 crore are considered.
+TitleYearWorldwide grossApthamitra2004Jogi2005Mungaru Male2006₹70 croreRaajakumara2017₹75 croreKGF: Chapter 12018₹250 croreKGF: Chapter 22022₹1,200–1,250 crore
Highest-grossing films by year There are no official box office tracking figures for Kannada movies. However, movies which are prominently popular in most of the sources have been considered in the table YearTitle1934Sati Sulochana1935Sadaarame 1936Samsara Nauka1937Purandaradasa1941Vasantasena1942Bhakta Prahalada1943Satya Harishchandra1944Radha Ramana1946Hemareddy Mallamma1947Mahatma Kabir1948Bharathi1949Nagakannika1950Shaneeshwara Mahatme1951Jaganmohini1952Sri Srinivasa Kalyana1953Gunasagari1954Bedara Kannappa1955Mahakavi Kalidasa1956Bhakta Vijaya1957Rathnagiri Rahasya1958Bhookailasa1959Mahishasura Mardini1960Ranadheera Kanteerava1961Kittur Chennamma1962Rathna Manjari1963Veera Kesari1964Chandavalliya Thota1965Satya Harishchandra1966Mantralaya Mahatme1967Belli Moda1968Jedara Bale1969Mayor Muthanna1970Sri Krishnadevaraya1971Kasturi Nivasa1972Bangaarada Manushya1973Gandhada Gudi1974Sampathige Savaal1975Mayura1976Naa Ninna MareyalareRajnikanth, ಪರಭಾಷೆಗೆ ರಿಮೇಕ್ ಆದ ಡಾ. ರಾಜ್ಕುಮಾರ್ ನಟನೆಯ ಟಾಪ್ 5 ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳು - dr rajkumars top five movies remade in other languages - Vijaya Karnataka . Vijaykarnataka.com (4 March 2020). Retrieved on 30 November 2022.1977Sanaadi Appanna1978Shankar Guru1979Huliya Haalina Mevu1980Auto Raja1981Antha1982Chalisuva Modagalu1983Kaviratna Kalidasa1984Bandhana1985Nee Bareda Kadambari1986Anuraga Aralithu1987Premaloka1988Ranadheera1989Nanjundi Kalyana1990Rani Maharani1991Ramachaari1992Jeevana Chaitra1993Aakasmika1994Odahuttidavaru1995Om1996Janumada Jodi1997Amruthavarshini1998A1999Suryavamsha2000Yajamana2001Nanna Preethiya Hudugi2002Thavarige Baa Thangi2003Raktha Kanneeru2004Apthamitra2005Jogi2006Mungaru Male2007 Cheluvina Chittara2008Buddhivantha2009Raaj – The Showman2010Jackie2011Saarathi2012Sangolli Rayanna2013Bulbul2014Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari2015RangiTaranga 2016Kirik Party2017Raajakumara2018KGF: Chapter 12019Kurukshetra2020Popcorn Monkey Tiger2021Roberrt2022KGF: Chapter 22023Kaatera2024Max2025Kantara: Chapter 12026Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups
Highest-grossing franchises +
See also List of highest-grossing Indian films List of highest-grossing Hindi films List of highest-grossing Indian Bengali films List of highest-grossing Marathi films List of highest-grossing Punjabi-language films List of highest-grossing South Indian films List of highest-grossing Malayalam films List of highest-grossing Tamil films List of highest-grossing Telugu films List of highest-grossing films in India
Notes
References