The Greatest of All Time (The Goat): Reviews, OTT, Collection, Cast & Release Date

The Greatest of All Time (The Goat) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language action thriller directed by Venkat Prabhur, with a screenplay also penned by him. Produced by AGS Entertainment, the film marks the 25th and most expensive project for the production house. Archana Kalpathi and Aishwarya Kalapathi served as creative producers. The movie stars Vijay in dual roles as M. S. Gandhi and Sanjay, supported by a stellar cast including Meenakshi Chaudhary, Malvika Sharma, Prabhu Deva, and Sneha. Officially announced as Thalapathy 68 in May 2023, the title was revealed in December.

The Greatest of All Time (2024) Movie: Reviews, Cast, Budget & Release Date | BOOKZONE

 

Filming took place across locations such as Chennai, Thailand, Russia, and the United States.

Yuvan Shankar Raja composed the music, while Siddhartha Nuni handled the cinematography, and Venkat Raajen edited the film. With a budget of ₹400 crore, Goat was released worldwide on 5 September 2024 in standard and IMAX formats. Critics offered mixed reviews, citing weak character development and writing, but praised Vijay’s performance, the action scenes, and the gripping climax.

Image Credit: Koimoi

The Greatest of All Time (The Goat) Plot

After years of successful missions, elite agent Gandhi retires, opting for a quiet life with his wife Anu and son Jeevan. However, a past operation resurfaces. In Kenya, Gandhi's Special Anti-Terrorism Squad (SATS) captures stolen uranium from ex-chief Rajiv Menon, presumed dead after a train explosion. Later, while on a mission in Bangkok, Gandhi’s family is attacked, Jeevan disappears, and a charred body is found, thought to be his. Devastated, Anu gives birth to their daughter but distances herself from Gandhi.

Years pass, and Gandhi, now working as an immigration officer, discovers Jeevan alive. Manipulated by Menon, Jeevan blames Gandhi for his family’s downfall and plans a devastating stadium attack. Gandhi confronts and kills Jeevan, only to realize he is a clone. The real Jeevan, a scientist, survives and continues his dangerous cloning experiments.

The Goat Cast

The cast of The Greatest of All Time (The Goat) is led by Vijay in dual roles as M. S. Gandhi and Jeevan Gandhi/Sanjay. Prabhu Deva plays Kalyan Sundaram, while Prashanth takes on the role of Sunil Thiagarajan. Ajmal Ameer portrays Ajay Govindharaj, and Mohan appears as Rajiv Menon. Jayaram plays Nazeer, Gandhi's former boss, and Sneha stars as Anuradha "Anu," Gandhi’s wife. Laila plays Dr. Radhika Sunil, Sunil's wife, and Meenakshi Chaudhary is cast as Srinidhi Thiagarajan. Vaibhav portrays Sha, a key accomplice, while Yogi Babu provides comic relief as Diamond Babu. Supporting roles include Subbu Panchu as SI Rajendran, VTV Ganesh as Raghavan, and Yugendran as Abdul.

The Goat OTT Release Date and OTT Platform

The Greatest of All Time (The GOAT) is a Tamil-language action thriller movie directed by Venkat Prabhu, featuring Vijay in dual roles. Produced by AGS Entertainment, this is the studio’s 25th production. The movie was globally released in theaters on September 5, 2024, marking Vijay’s penultimate film before his expected political debut.

Netflix acquired the streaming rights for the film, securing the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada versions for ₹125 crore (US$15 million) and the Hindi version for ₹25 crore (US$3 million). Zee Tamil purchased the satellite rights for ₹93 crore. Venkat Prabhu announced that a director’s cut with 20 minutes of additional content would be available on Netflix following the theatrical run. Typically, films are released on OTT platforms 4 to 5 weeks after their cinema debut.

Read More: The Raja Saab: Release Date, Reviews, OTT, Trailer & Cast

The Goat Box Office Collection

The Greatest of All Time (The Goat) made a strong start at the box office, earning approximately ₹44.00 crore net across all languages in India on its opening day. The film's performance continued to impress on Day 2, with significant collections both domestically and internationally. In Tamil Nadu alone, the movie grossed ₹21.75 crore, showcasing its strong appeal in the region.

Globally, Goat maintained steady growth, with collections across major territories contributing to its worldwide box office success. With a substantial production budget of ₹400 crore, the film is expected to continue its box office momentum in the coming weeks, solidifying its position as one of the major releases of 2024.

The Goat Reviews

The Greatest of All Time (The Goat) has garnered mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Directed by Venkat Prabhu, the film showcases Vijay in dual roles, which has been praised for its energetic performance and engaging action sequences. The storyline, involving complex themes of betrayal and revenge, provides a solid foundation but struggles with uneven character development and a somewhat weak antagonist.

While Vijay’s performances and the high-octane action scenes have been highlighted as standout elements, the film’s writing and plot execution have received criticism. Some reviewers felt that the narrative lacked depth and failed to fully explore its intriguing premise. Despite these issues, the film's technical aspects, including cinematography by Siddhartha Nuni and a pulsating soundtrack by Yuvan Shankar Raja, have been well-received. Overall, Goat offers a visually impressive experience but may leave some viewers wanting more in terms of story and character engagement.

The Goat Release Date

The Greatest of All Time (The Goat) premiered globally on September 5, 2024, in both standard and IMAX formats. The film's release was met with mixed reviews from critics. While the high-octane action sequences, Vijay’s performance, and the gripping climax were praised, the film faced criticism for its character development, weak antagonist, and overall storyline. The reviews highlighted that despite the visual spectacle and Vijay’s compelling dual roles, the narrative struggled to fully engage viewers due to its underdeveloped characters and lacklustre writing. The film's ambitious plot and technical achievements were noted, but they were not enough to overcome the critiques regarding its storytelling shortcomings.