Baahubali The Epic Faces Box Office Slowdown
Baahubali The Epic Faces Box Office Slowdown
A decade after redefining Indian cinema, filmmaker SS Rajamouli attempted to recreate the magic of his magnum opus with Baahubali: The Epic — a re-edited, three-hour-forty-four-minute version combining both Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion. Released on October 31 to celebrate the franchise’s 10th anniversary, the film was expected to reignite nostalgia and dominate the box office once again. However, despite the massive buzz and loyal fanbase, Baahubali: The Epic seems to have fallen short of expectations.
A Grand Return That Didn’t Translate to Grand Numbers
In its first four days, Baahubali: The Epic earned around ₹40 crore gross worldwide — a decent figure for a re-release, yet underwhelming when compared to the monumental legacy of the franchise. To put things in perspective, Baahubali: The Beginning had earned approximately ₹650 crore, while its sequel, The Conclusion, shattered records with an estimated ₹1,800 crore global collection. – Baahubali The Epic Faces Box Office Slowdown
What caught industry watchers off guard was the drop in collections — the film’s Sunday earnings dipped below its Friday numbers, a sign of waning audience interest.
Regional Response: Strong in Telugu States, Tepid Elsewhere
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala noted that the film’s original Telugu version has performed well in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and among diaspora audiences in the United States. However, its reception in other regions, including Tamil Nadu, has been lukewarm.
“In Chennai, it’s doing decent numbers, but not phenomenal. For a re-release, it’s fair business. Still, there’s no real benchmark for comparison since such an experiment hasn’t been tried before,” Bala explained.
Bala further attributed the film’s muted response to minimal marketing efforts and its lengthy runtime, saying the makers seemed to rely solely on the Baahubali brand name to draw crowds. – Baahubali The Epic Faces Box Office Slowdown
‘Overexposure’ to the Franchise
Trade and marketing expert Girish Wankhede broke down the numbers, revealing that the film collected ₹1.15 crore during paid previews and ₹9.65 crore nett on its opening day in India. However, the subsequent drop in weekend numbers signaled fatigue among audiences.
“When Sunday numbers fall below the opening day, that’s a warning sign,” Wankhede said. “People have watched Baahubali countless times — in theatres, on TV, and OTT. The visual grandeur still holds up, but the novelty is gone.”
He also emphasized that the film’s near four-hour runtime discouraged repeat viewing.
“Today’s audience rarely wants to sit through anything beyond two-and-a-half hours, even if the content is engaging,” he added.
Baahubali The Epic Faces Box Office Slowdown
A Shift in Audience Dynamics
Post-pandemic viewing habits have also changed. Bala pointed out that post-COVID audiences are more selective about what they watch in theatres.
“Only die-hard fans turned up to relive the magic. Re-releases can work wonders, but that depends heavily on timing, nostalgia, and limited fan-centric screenings,” he said.
Lessons from the Experiment
While Baahubali: The Epic’s ₹40 crore worldwide gross isn’t a failure for a re-release, it serves as a reality check for the industry. The film’s performance indicates that even cinematic milestones have a shelf life, and relying solely on nostalgia isn’t always enough to draw today’s audiences.
The re-release experiment highlights a changing truth in Indian cinema — that even legends like Baahubali may not be immune to franchise fatigue. As one trade insider aptly put it:
“Baahubali: The Epic is too big to ignore, but too familiar to feel new again.”
Baahubali The Epic Faces Box Office Slowdown
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