# From Baahubali Glory to Box Office Blues: Is Prabhas' *The Raja Saab* Losing Its North American Spark? **Prabhas**, the undisputed king of Pan-India cinema after the monumental *Baahubali* franchise, is facing an unexpected hurdle with his upcoming horror-comedy *The Raja Saab*—underwhelming advance bookings in North America that pale in comparison to his recent blockbusters.[1] Directed by Maruthi, *The Raja Saab* marks a bold shift for Prabhas from epic action spectacles like *Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire* and *Kalki 2898 AD* to a lighter romantic horror-comedy genre.[1] Set for a worldwide release on January 9, 2026 (with premieres on January 8), the film has generated buzz, but North American pre-sales tell a different story. As of recent data, USA premiere advances stand at around **USD 300K** from 344 locations and over 100 shows, selling nearly 11,000 tickets, with total North America (USA + Canada) at approximately **$315K**—just eight days before premieres.[1] These figures aren't catastrophic for a mid-budget release, but they're a far cry from Prabhas' standards. His previous films crossed the **$1 million** mark in premiere advances well before release, showing explosive growth.[1] For context, even after the theatrical trailer's launch, *The Raja Saab* only added marginal gains, struggling to surpass $200K as of December 27.[1] Earlier reports noted US pre-sales at $173.8K (6K+ tickets from 979 shows across 325 locations) with 13 days left, and $100K+ (3.4K tickets from 855 shows) even further out.[3][4] The stakes are higher due to distributor expectations: the North American break-even is estimated at **$10 million**, making the current trajectory a steep climb.[1] Compounding the concern, *The Raja Saab* is in a tight box office battle with Thalapathy Vijay's *Jana Nayagan* (aka *Jan Nayagan*), releasing the same day. Despite later advance openings (about 15 days ago), Vijay's film has surged to **USD 350K** in North America, edging ahead with rapid daily sales.[1][5]
*Image: A cinematic glimpse into the high-stakes world of South Indian stardom (Unsplash free stock).*
Citations
1.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/box-office/from-baahubali-to-box-office-blues-the-raja-saab-struggles-to-ignite-north-america-despite-prabhass-stardom/articleshow/126282875.cms
2.https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-raja-saab/box-office/
3.https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65635208/
4.https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65617749/
5.https://www.sacnilk.com/news/The_Raja_Saab_Vs_Jana_Nayagan_Advance_Booking_North_America_Prabhasstarrer_Locks_In_A_Tight_Battle_With_Vijays_Actioner
6.https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/RajaSaab-The-(2026-India)
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