Telugu movies have consistently performed well at the North American box office, particularly in the USA, where they often outshine other South Indian films. Currently, the top two highest-grossing Indian films in North America are both Telugu: Baahubali 2 and Kalki 2898 AD.
Looking ahead, 2024 is poised to be a landmark year for Telugu cinema, with projections indicating that the cumulative gross of all Telugu films released in a single calendar year will exceed $50 million for the first time. This milestone could even reach up to $60 million, especially with the highly anticipated release of Pushpa 2: The Rule, scheduled for December 5th.
As of now, Telugu films have already garnered close to $43 million in North America this year, with the top six grossing films including:
- Kalki 2898 AD: $18.57 million
- Devara: $6.01 million
- Hanuman: $5.26 million
- Tillu 2: $2.93 million
- Guntur Kaaram: $2.63 million
- Saripodhaa Sanivaaram: $2.5 million
With Pushpa 2: The Rule on the horizon, the cumulative gross of Telugu films is expected to surpass the $50 million mark, with a strong possibility of reaching $60 to $70 million if the film meets expectations.
This surge in box office performance is attributed to a growing Telugu diaspora in the USA, particularly among students, which has increased significantly post-COVID. If major stars continue to release at least one film per year, crossing the $50 million cumulative gross threshold may become the new norm in the years to come.
