Ram Charan’s Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana, has already emerged as one of the most awaited pan-India releases of the year. Advance bookings in North America opened a few days ago, and the initial response has been quite strong.
The makers confirmed that premiere shows in the United States will begin on June 3. According to reports, the film has already touched the $200K mark in North American pre-sales. Overseas distributor Prathyangira Cinemas also revealed that more than 6,000 premiere tickets were sold across North America.
However, the film has now triggered a major debate because of its ticket pricing. Telugu premiere shows are reportedly being sold at premium rates, with regular 2D tickets priced around $20-25 depending on the location and theatre chain. PLF screens reportedly cost an additional $5, while D-BOX and other premium formats add another $7-10. In some locations, final ticket prices after taxes and convenience charges are reportedly crossing $40.
The pricing strategy has triggered heavy debate online. Many Telugu moviegoers in the US questioned whether audiences would be willing to spend nearly $40 for a regular commercial entertainer. Some compared the pricing with large-scale event films like RRR, Baahubali, and SS Rajamouli’s upcoming project with Mahesh Babu, arguing that Peddi has not yet achieved that level of event-film status.
Others pointed out that even many highly anticipated Hindi films like Dhurandhar generally maintained ticket prices in the $15-20 range in the US market. According to some trade observers, such pricing may work initially because of fan hype but could become risky if the film receives only average word of mouth. In that scenario, common audiences outside hardcore fan circles may avoid theatres altogether.
The discussion intensified further after screenshots from a Cinemark location circulated online showing ticket prices crossing $42 after taxes and premium-format charges.
Responding to the criticism, Prathyangira Cinemas issued a clarification on social media. The distributor explained that premium formats naturally cost more, comparing the pricing difference to choosing between a standard iPhone and an iPhone Pro Max. According to them, PLF screens add around $5 extra, while D-BOX and specialty formats increase prices further. They also noted that taxes and booking charges vary by state and ticketing platform.
Interestingly, the makers are following a different strategy for dubbed versions. Reports suggest the Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada versions will not carry premiere pricing and will instead follow standard ticket rates from day one.
Despite the pricing controversy, the hype around Peddi remains strong. The film is set for a worldwide release on June 4, with premiere shows beginning a day earlier.
The bigger question now is whether audiences will continue accepting premium pricing because of the film’s hype or whether the growing backlash over ticket costs could eventually affect its momentum in the US.
