Vijay's 'Greatest of All Time': What worked and what didn't for the film

It has been 10 days since the release of Vijay's starrer 'GOAT,' also known as 'Greatest of All Time.' Directed by Venkat Prabhu, the film has already surpassed Rs 300 crore at the worldwide box office. Even after 10 days, the movie shows no signs of slowing down and continues to perform exceptionally well in Tamil. As the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2024, here’s a look at what worked and what didn’t for the film.

(This is not an opinion piece. It is a collection of feedback from critics, audiences, fans, and netizens. Spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.)

The film’s action sequences, except for the climax, were well-received by audiences, offering a rush of adrenaline. The theatre erupted with excitement when the younger and older versions of Vijay fought both alongside and against each other in the Moscow sequence.

With 'GOAT,' Vijay’s title card received an exciting update, much to the delight of his fans. Many even thanked Lokesh Kanagaraj and Anirudh Ravichander for creating the space in Vijay's previous film 'Leo,' which gave Venkat Prabhu the opportunity to craft this new title card.

The film featured several veteran actors, including Mohan, Prashanth, Sneha, Prabhu Deva, Laila, and Ajmal. This special cast allowed audiences to enjoy seeing Vijay share screen space with these seasoned stars, adding a nostalgic charm.

Venkat Prabhu's nods to Vijay's earlier films like 'Thuppaki,' 'Ghilli,' and 'Thiruppachi,' along with subtle hints at Vijay’s potential political entry through details like the unique car number plate 'CM 2026,' added excitement. The bar name and the introduction song also boosted audience enjoyment.

The second half of the film felt slow, giving audiences the sense that it was overly long. Many felt that the film could have been wrapped up more efficiently without overcomplicating the plot. A 3-hour runtime for an action-entertainment film didn’t sit well with many viewers.

While the background score was timely and well-received, the film’s songs didn’t fare as well. Their placement in the narrative felt irrational, especially when a song followed a murder sequence, disrupting the screenplay’s flow.

Though the film had a powerful protagonist in Vijay, who works for SATS and handles international projects, the antagonist's role was underdeveloped, leaving a noticeable void. This lack of a compelling villain was a significant drawback.

The film hyped several references to CSK player MS Dhoni, exciting fans. However, the climax featuring a CSK vs MI match didn’t meet expectations and ended up being underwhelming, leaving fans disappointed.