Prabhas’ Kalki 2898 AD continues to hold the record for the highest opening in the American region. While Prabhas’ other blockbuster, Salaar, smashed opening records in the Telugu states, the rest of India, and several overseas markets, it couldn’t surpass Kalki 2898 AD in the US. Notably, Kalki 2898 AD opened 50% higher than Salaar and even surpassed the all-time record set by RRR with a $500K premiere collection. It also came close to the long-standing record of Baahubali 2 during its extended run.
But what makes Kalki 2898 AD a phenomenon in the US market? Even recent biggies like NTR’s Devara couldn’t match its numbers, largely due to the lack of Kalki 2898 AD‘s massive scale, gripping narrative, and astronomical budget. Surprisingly, even the highly anticipated Pushpa 2—which enjoys immense global hype—hasn’t been able to overtake Kalki 2898 AD.
Currently, Pushpa 2 has amassed $2 million in pre-sales for its North American premiere, but it needs a significant surge to surpass Kalki 2898 AD’s record-breaking debut. At this pace, it seems unlikely that Pushpa 2 will dethrone Kalki 2898 AD in the US.
However, outside of the US, Pushpa 2 is set for a monumental opening, poised to break records by a wide margin in other territories. Whether Pushpa 2 can challenge Kalki 2898 AD in the long run remains to be seen.
