Dhanush’s Kuberaa is lighting up the North American box office, blasting through $1.3 million in gross collections in just a matter of days. The Sekhar Kammula-directed socio-political thriller, which hit theaters on June 20, 2025, has fans packing cinemas across the U.S. and Canada, proving it’s got the juice to be a major player. With a star-packed cast and a gripping story, here’s why Kuberaa’s early win is making waves.
This Telugu-Tamil bilingual crime drama follows Deva, a beggar played by Dhanush, whose life spirals into a high-stakes clash of ambition and greed alongside a government official (Nagarjuna), a businesswoman (Rashmika Mandanna), and a shady businessman (Jim Sarbh). The film raked in a hefty $900,000 from premieres and day one, including $505,000 from opening shows alone. By Saturday, June 21, it was pulling in over $400,000 in a single day, pushing the total to $1.32 million and counting, according to buzz on social media. That’s a record for Dhanush, outdoing his previous North American high, Raayan ($860,000), in just one day.
Fans are losing it over Dhanush’s raw, intense performance, with some calling it his career-best and tossing around National Award talk. Nagarjuna’s commanding presence and Rashmika’s emotional depth are getting big shout-outs too, while Devi Sri Prasad’s thumping soundtrack is the pulse of the film. Shot in real locations like Mumbai’s Dharavi slums and the Maha Kumbh Mela, Kuberaa’s 184-minute runtime feels gritty and alive, thanks to Sekhar Kammula’s knack for blending social issues with crowd-pleasing thrills. Telugu screenings are leading the charge, with Saturday occupancy hitting 66.19% and night shows at a wild 83.67%.
Read Also: Kuberaa’s Hot Start: Dhanush’s Thriller Rakes in ₹5.9 Crore in Nizam Over Two Days
The numbers are no fluke. Playing in 350 locations, Kuberaa saw advance bookings jump 239% in 48 hours before release, from $36,000 to $115,800. The film’s global gross is already past ₹50 crore ($6 million), with North America being a huge chunk of that. Trade folks are betting on a $1.5-$2 million weekend finish in the U.S. and Canada, which could make it one of 2025’s top South Indian films overseas. Even with a ₹120 crore budget, a ₹47 crore Amazon Prime Video deal and hot ticket sales have it on solid ground.
Not everyone’s sold, though. Some say the Tamil version’s 35.2% occupancy lags behind expectations, and a few reviews call the plot a bit dense. But the vibe online is hyped, with fans praising the “poignant, poetic” story and “bheebatsam” (mind-blowing) background score. For Dhanush, it’s a massive moment, cementing his overseas pull. For Kammula, it’s a win for taking risks with a big, bold thriller. With Sunday numbers still rolling in, Kuberaa’s North American rampage is just getting started—grab a ticket and see what’s got everyone talking.