The Greatest of All Time (The GOAT) starring Vijay in the lead, is setting the advance bookings meter on fire ahead of its September 5 release in theaters worldwide. With the hype and box-office promise looking bright already, we bring to you 5 reasons why the movie, titled GOAT in Hindi, warrants a watch on the big screen:

1. Vijay

It is no news to the Tamil film audience that star actor Vijay, who also goes by 'Thalapathy' is gearing up to leave his years of acting behind. The Greatest Of All Time is the 50 year old's second last gig before he contests for the state Chief Minister's position, in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections. For fans and otherwise, The GOAT is one of the last chances to catch Vijay on the big screen, who has been part of the film industry ever since he was a child artist (1984), and then a teen lead actor (Naalaiya Theerpu - 1992).

2. A Venkat Prabhu Hero

The Greatest of All Time is written and directed by popular director Venkat Prabhu, who has given crowd favourite hits like Chennai 600028 (2007), Goa (2010), Mankatha (2011), Biriyani (2013), and Maanaadu (2021). Venkat Prabhu movies are known for being complete entertainers, and with what has been teased of The GOAT so far, it is evident that Venkat Prabhu has taken this entertainment quotient to a whole new level. Every Venkat Prabhu movie comes with a signature tagline, and The Greatest of All is tagged 'A Venkat Prabhu Hero'.

3. Plot

Since its onset, crosswords have been a big theme in The GOAT's promotions, leading to the film earning its unofficial tag 'A Venkat Prabhu Puzzle'.  The makers have confirmed layers to the film, by stating that major plot points of The GOAT have been kept under wraps. 

The Greatest of All Time Synopsis

Gandhi and his friends, elite agents working for SATS under RAW, have always been an unstoppable force, their missions never ending in failure. After years of successful operations, Gandhi suddenly retires, choosing a quiet, ordinary life. However, a past mission comes back to haunt them, unleashing a series of mysterious and dangerous events that no one can explain. With time running out and the stakes higher than ever, Gandhi is forced to reunite with his squad to prevent a catastrophic disaster. The team must uncover the truth behind these events and confront the reason that drove Gandhi into retirement. Will they succeed in stopping this impending threat, or will the ghosts of their pasts finally catch up to them? This intense, action-packed drama unfolds in the signature style of Venkat Prabhu, blending suspense, thrill, and unexpected twists.

The Greatest of All Time is marketed as a 'commercial entertainer with sci-fi elements' and Vijay plays an elite anti-terrorist agent, doing high octane action. Vijay also plays his younger version, and one cannot but help be curious about how these dual roles have been placed in a story, where both the father and son are seen fighting to stop a bomb threat, along with an agency known as the Special Anti-Terrorist Squad (SATS).

4. Hollywood-Range

The Greatest of All Time is not just a big budget production, but some of the scenes that are out from the movie give Hollywood-range production. From helicopters to fast moving trains, to scaling the length of a high rise building, to freefalling using a parachute, The GOAT movie teases of elements which are not an everyday occurrence in Tamil cinema. 

De-aging a whole character in 3D, which is a double action, is another VFX feat that is unusual for a commercial movie in Kollywood. 

5. Theater Movie

While all movies that release in theaters are essentially made for the big screen, The Greatest Of All Time promises a value-for-money experience in theaters. The Greatest of All Time's starry ensemble comprising names like Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Sneha, Laila, Mohan, Jayaram, Yogi Babu among a lot others, its catchy visuals, a strong technical team comprising Yuvan Shankar Raja (music), Siddhartha Nuni (cinematography), Dilip Subbarayan (action), and top notch production value contribute towards GOAT being a value-for-money theater movie.