Pongal 2026 Box Office Clash in USA: Complete List of Indian Movies Releasing for NRIs
The biggest box office war of 2026 is here! Pongal/Sankranti 2026 (January 9-16) is set to deliver an unforgettable festive treat for Non-Resident Indians across the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and the Middle East. With Thalapathy Vijay's cinematic farewell Jana Nayagan leading the charge, clashing directly with Prabhas' pan-India horror-comedy The Raja Saab, and Sivakarthikeyan's high-octane Parasakthi joining the fray, theaters in North America are bracing for record-breaking premieres and sold-out weekends.
For NRIs, this Pongal clash means massive premiere shows starting January 8 evening in the US – perfect timing for the long Martin Luther King Jr. weekend (January 19 holiday). Advance bookings are exploding, with chains like AMC, Regal, Cinemark, and independent Tamil/Telugu theaters reporting unprecedented pre-sales. Vijay's film alone has already crossed $400,000 in US premieres, while Prabhas' massive NRI following is pushing The Raja Saab close behind.
Complete List of Major Indian Movies Releasing Pongal/Sankranti 2026 in USA:
- Jana Nayagan (Tamil) – January 9, 2026 (Thursday premieres in USA from Jan 8 evening) Star: Thalapathy Vijay (final film before full-time politics), Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol Director: H. Vinoth | Music: Anirudh Ravichander Political action thriller – Vijay's biggest-ever expected opening. Dubbed in Telugu as Jana Nayakudu and Hindi as Jana Neta. USA locations: 500+ screens expected, heavy in Texas, California, New Jersey, Atlanta, Chicago.
- The Raja Saab (Telugu + Tamil/Hindi/Kannada/Malayalam dubbed) – January 9, 2026 Star: Prabhas, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Sanjay Dutt Director: Maruthi | Genre: Horror-comedy romance Prabhas' first outright horror-comedy – massive hype post-Kalki. Direct clash with Jana Nayagan in multiplexes. USA: Wide release, strong in Telugu-heavy areas like Dallas, Bay Area, Seattle.
- Parasakthi (Tamil + Telugu dubbed) – January 10 or 14, 2026 Star: Sivakarthikeyan, Sreeleela, Atharvaa, Ravi Mohan (antagonist) Director: Sudha Kongara Period action drama set in 1960s Tamil Nadu – National award-winning director's big commercial outing. USA: Good number of screens, especially in Tamil-dominated cities.
Other Confirmed Sankranti Releases Screening in Select US Theaters:
- Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu (Telugu) – January 13/14 → Star: Chiranjeevi | Director: Anil Ravipudi
- Bhartha Mahasayulaku Vignapthi (Telugu) – January 13 → Star: Ravi Teja
- Anaganaga Oka Raju (Telugu) – January 14 → Star: Naveen Polishetty
- Nari Nari Naduma Murari (Telugu) – January 14 → Star: Sharwanand
This multi-star clash is reminding NRIs of legendary Pongal battles like 2023's Varisu vs Thunivu. Trade experts predict combined Day 1 USA gross could cross $3-4 million – a new benchmark for South Indian films overseas.
For the global Indian diaspora, Pongal 2026 isn't just a festival – it's a cinematic celebration! Whether you're Team Thalapathy, Team Rebel Star, or Team SK, book your tickets now as shows are selling out fast on BookMyShow, Fandango, and local theater apps.
Which film are you watching first in the USA this Pongal? Tell us in the comments! Stay tuned to NRIGlobe.com for live USA box office updates, premiere reactions, NRI fan meets, and collection reports from January 9 onwards.
