The Telugu film market has seen massive growth in recent years. Once considered rare, the 100-crore pre-release business mark is now frequently achieved, thanks to increased ticket prices and the popularity of star-studded projects. In 2025, the first major release is the much-anticipated Game Changer, starring global star Ram Charan and directed by Shankar. Releasing during Sankranti, the film has already created waves with an enormous pre-release business of ₹122 crore in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, marking the highest in Ram Charan’s solo career. It also ranks as the 6th all-time highest pre-release business in the Telugu states.
Top Pre-Release Business Movies in Telugu States
- Pushpa 2: The Rule – ₹213 Crores
Sukumar’s Pushpa 2, starring Allu Arjun, continues to dominate as the highest pre-release business film in Telugu cinema history. - RRR – ₹191 Crores
Rajamouli’s RRR, with NTR and Ram Charan in lead roles, secured a massive ₹191 crore pre-release business, further solidifying Telugu cinema’s Pan-India appeal. - Kalki 2898 AD – ₹168 Crores
Nag Ashwin’s sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD made a remarkable ₹168 crore pre-release business, showcasing its high expectations. - Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire – ₹145 Crores
Prashanth Neel’s Salaar starring Prabhas earned ₹145 crore, highlighting Prabhas’s consistent box office pull. - Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – ₹122 Crores
Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2, a global blockbuster, set early benchmarks with ₹122 crore in pre-release business. - Game Changer – ₹122 Crores
Ram Charan’s Game Changer tied with Baahubali 2 at ₹122 crore, reflecting the hype surrounding its Sankranti release. - Saaho – ₹121.6 Crores
Sujeeth’s Saaho, starring Prabhas, brought in ₹121.6 crore in pre-release business, proving his strong fan base. - Adipurush – ₹120 Crores
Om Raut’s mythological drama Adipurush, also featuring Prabhas, amassed ₹120 crore in pre-release business. - Devara: Part 1 – ₹112.55 Crores
Directed by Koratala Siva, Devara: Part 1 starring Jr. NTR, collected ₹112.55 crore, setting expectations high. - Acharya – ₹107.50 Crores
Starring Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan, Acharya achieved ₹107.50 crore in pre-release business.
The Growing 100-Crore Club
A total of 14 Telugu films have crossed the ₹100-crore pre-release business milestone. With Game Changer securing the 6th position, all eyes are on how well the movie performs at the box office amidst Sankranti competition. If the movie garners positive talk, recovering its investment will likely be a smooth ride, paving the way for yet another blockbuster in Ram Charan’s illustrious career.
As the race for Sankranti heats up, it remains to be seen if Game Changer will meet the enormous expectations and deliver collections worthy of its pre-release business.