Jana Nayagan vs The Raja Saab: Vijay’s final film surges in US pre-sales despite late start

Thalapathy Vijay's swan song to cinema is defying expectations at the North American box office. Jana Nayagan has collected over USD 107,000 in advance bookings at US cinema halls despite opening ticket sales nearly 10 days after Prabhas's The Raja Saab, which has amassed USD 173,000 from the same market. Industry trackers report that Vijay's film is showing stronger momentum relative to its later start, marking a departure from typical patterns where Tamil films trail their Telugu counterparts in North America.

Both films are scheduled for a January 9 release, positioning them for a high-stakes Sankranthi and Pongal weekend clash. Jana Nayagan, directed by H. Vinoth and featuring Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde, marks Vijay's final screen appearance before his full-time entry into politics with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which the Election Commission of India registered in September 2024.

Prabhas Faces Resistance, Vijay Dominates UK Markets

The Raja Saab's advance booking performance represents a stark decline from Prabhas's recent releases. His previous films, Kalki 2898 AD and Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire, each crossed USD 1 million in North American pre-sales within two weeks of their premiere shows. With less than two weeks remaining, The Raja Saab is struggling to surpass USD 220,000, suggesting resistance to the horror-comedy genre among his fanbase accustomed to larger-than-life action roles.

Jana Nayagan is demonstrating even stronger performance in the United Kingdom, where Tamil films traditionally outperform Telugu releases. The film sold over 22,000 tickets for its opening weekend, while pre-sales in the UK crossed £200,000 within 72 hours of bookings opening. During a December 27 audio launch event at Malaysia's National Stadium Bukit Jalil that drew nearly 100,000 fans, Vijay addressed supporters about his transition from cinema to public service.

Political Pivot Follows Film Career

Jana Nayagan represents the culmination of Vijay's three-decade film career before his planned contest in Tamil Nadu's 2026 Assembly elections. At the Malaysia event, Vijay told fans, "I have thrown away the peak of my career, and I have thrown away the salary. I'm here as your VIJAY with a trust in you all". The Raja Saab, meanwhile, features Prabhas in a horror-comedy directed by Maruthi, with a cast including Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Malavika Mohanan.

Prabhas extended goodwill to competing releases at his film's pre-release event, stating, "I wish all the Sankranthi releases become blockbusters".