List of Tamil films of 2016
Post-amendment to the Tamil Nadu Entertainment Tax Act 1939 on 27 September 2011, gross jumped to 130 per cent of net for films with non-Tamil titles and U certificates as well. Commercial Taxes Department disclosed 85.81 crore in entertainment tax revenue for the year. According to the FICCI-EY media and entertainment industry report, the Tamil film segment registered domestic net box office receipts of 946 crore with 12.6 crore admissions.
Box office collection
The highest-grossing films released in 2016, by worldwide box office gross revenue, are as follows.| Rank | Title | Production company | Distributor | Worldwide gross | Ref. |
| 1 | Kabali | V. Creations | Gemini Film Circuit, Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, Fox Star Studios, Malik Stream Corporation | ₹283 crore | |
| 2 | Theri | V. Creations | SPI Cinemas, Sri Venkateswara Creations, | ||
| 3 | 24 | 2D Entertainment | Eros International | ||
| 4 | Iru Mugan | Thameens Films | Auraa Cinemas, Thameens Release | ||
| 5 | K: The Deadly Spirit | Dream Warrior Pictures | Thenandal Films | ||
| 6 | Thodari | Sathya Jyothi Films | Ayngaran International | ||
| 7 | Rajini Murugan | Thirupathi Brothers | Escape Artists Motion | ||
| 8 | Aranmanai 2 | Avni Cinemax | Sri Thenandal Films | ||
| 9 | Pichaikkaran | Vijay Antony Film Corporation | KR films | ||
| 10 | Dharma Durai | Studio 9 | Studio 9 |