Top 5 Factors That Effected January 2026 Telugu Films in North America

January 2026 created headlines for Telugu films in North America because of record overall box office numbers. The total Telugu collection for the month is expected to end at nearly $8.5 million which is the highest ever for January. However when we look closely at individual films, the real picture is very different.

Even though the combined number looks strong, most films failed to meet expectations. Many releases struggled due to poor planning and heavy competition. Several movies were released very close to each other, which reduced screen availability and audience turnout. Odd release dates and uneven show timings also created problems for distributors and exhibitors.

Another major issue was bad weather during the second weekend in important markets like the USA and Canada. Snowstorms and travel issues kept audiences away from theatres. Because of all these reasons, only a few films managed to perform well, while others suffered losses.

The clear winner of January was Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. The film finished its North American run with $3.34 million, making it the most successful Telugu release of the month. Strong word of mouth and steady weekend collections helped the film maintain good momentum.

Anaganaga Oka Raju also performed well. It collected $1.76 million and exceeded initial expectations. The film found consistent audience support and achieved hit status.

Nari Nari Naduma Murari ended on a safe note with $758,000. Although it had limited screens and slow growth, the film managed to avoid losses.

On the negative side, Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi turned out to be a clear flop. It closed with only $213,000, continuing a poor overseas trend for its lead actor.

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi, released late in the month, failed to gain traction. It earned just $35,000, with very weak premiere numbers.

The biggest disappointment was The Raja Saab. Despite high expectations, the film ended as a major disaster with $2.356 million, far below its break-even target. Most of its earnings came only from the Telugu version, while other language versions saw almost no response.