Kingdom, the Telugu-language spy action thriller directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and starring Vijay Deverakonda alongside Bhagyashri Borse, has failed to meet box office expectations in North America despite a promising start. The film opened strongly on its premiere day but ultimately is expected to gross only around USD 1.75 million (~₹15 crore) in the region.
The North American distributor Shloka Entertainment gave Kingdom fewer screens and shows on its premiere day than the movie arguably deserved, limiting its reach. Following that, the film struggled to maintain momentum, with attendance dropping sharply in subsequent days. This disappointing performance means Kingdom will likely become a rare big-budget film that incurs losses for its producers, as the movie’s revenue from theatrical runs may not cover its costs despite a decent start.
Vijay Deverakonda, who has delivered hits in the past including Geetha Govindam (2018) but has seen a recent dry spell, now plans to shift his focus toward his upcoming films, including the highly anticipated VD24. Industry watchers note that while Vijay still retains considerable audience pull, Kingdom’s failure highlights the challenges Tollywood movies face sustaining box office success overseas.
The film did receive praise for its action sequences, music, and a special cameo by superstar Nani, but criticisms around storyline and pacing dampened its overall reception. The disappointing North American run adds to a challenging 2025 for Tollywood, where only a few films such as Sankranthiki Vasthunam and Hit 3 have emerged as solid hits.
Despite this setback, Vijay Deverakonda’s commitment to his forthcoming projects remains strong, with hopes that VD24 and other titles will restore his box office standing both domestically and internationally.