Key Points
- “Baahubali: The Epic” releases October 31, 2025, with international premieres starting October 29 in the US, UK, and Ireland
- The combined cut has a runtime of 3 hours 44 minutes (224 minutes), making it one of the longest Indian films ever released
- Will screen on 150 IMAX theaters globally: 62 in the US, 58 in UK/Ireland, 34 in India, and the rest in Australia/New Zealand the largest IMAX release for a re-release
- Personally re-edited by S.S. Rajamouli with remastered picture quality, upgraded VFX, and Dolby Atmos sound
- Features previously unseen scenes while removing the romantic sequence “Kannaa Nidurinchara” and one song
- Advance booking has already crossed ₹5 crore globally, with several days remaining before release
- Available in premium formats including IMAX, 4DX, MX4D, D-Box, ScreenX, ICE, Dolby Cinema, and more
- Released in five languages: Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam
- “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” still holds the record as the highest-grossing Indian film in North America, even 8 years after release
Mumbai: Ten years after “Baahubali: The Beginning” first exploded onto screens and redefined Indian cinema’s global potential, master filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli is bringing the complete saga back to theaters in an unprecedented format. “Baahubali: The Epic” represents not merely a re-release but a comprehensive reimagining of the two-part franchise, meticulously crafted into a single, seamless cinematic experience.
The announcement came through a special video message featuring Prabhas, dressed in an all-black outfit, addressing fans directly. “Watch Baahubali: The Epic, combined cut of Part 1 and Part 2, on big screens on October 31,” Prabhas stated, before adding with characteristic charm, “I think”. The video then revealed the exciting news: international premieres would begin two days earlier on October 29.
Actor Rana Daggubati, who portrayed the menacing antagonist Bhallaladeva, shared the announcement on his Instagram with the caption: “Bhallaladeva is back. This time, it’s your chance to see both films together on the big screen! Only in theaters from October 31! Baahubali: The Epic October 31”. His post emphasized that this re-release offers audiences the complete Baahubali experience in one journey, answering the question that once captivated an entire nation: “Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?”.
Rajamouli’s Personal Re-Edit: A Director’s Vision Fulfilled
What distinguishes “Baahubali: The Epic” from a standard re-release is the direct involvement of S.S. Rajamouli in personally re-editing the combined footage. In July 2025, the acclaimed director announced this single-film version to mark the franchise’s tenth anniversary, taking on the ambitious task of weaving two complete films into a cohesive narrative.
Massive IMAX Release: A First for Indian Cinema Re-Releases
Producer Shobu Yarlagadda, in an exclusive conversation with ETimes, revealed the unprecedented scale of the theatrical release, particularly emphasizing the IMAX component. “Baahubali: The Epic” will screen on 150 IMAX theaters across the globe, representing the largest IMAX release ever for a re-released film in cinema history.
The 150 IMAX screens are distributed strategically across major markets:
- United States: 62 IMAX screens
- United Kingdom and Ireland: 58 IMAX screens
- India: All 34 IMAX screens nationwide
- Australia and New Zealand: Remaining screens
This comprehensive IMAX release fulfills a long-standing ambition for the filmmakers. Shobu explained that when “Baahubali: The Beginning” was released in 2015, the team was unable to secure IMAX distribution in India, a regret that has lingered for years. “We were not able to do IMAX when the first part was released in 2015, and now we are getting a chance to fulfill the dream,” Shobu stated.
The producer emphasized that this release specifically targets a new generation of viewers who experienced the films only through television, laptops, or mobile phones rather than the theatrical experience for which they were designed. “We were trying to provide the best possible cinematic experience for a generation that has come up now and had seen the film only on their phones or TVs or laptops,” Shobu explained.
Technical Enhancements and Visual Upgrades
The marketing campaign for “Baahubali: The Epic” has prominently featured the upgraded visual effects and remastered picture quality that distinguish this release from the original theatrical presentations. Teasers, trailers, and posters released in August 2025 highlighted these technical improvements, showcasing how modern post-production technology has enhanced the already spectacular visuals.
Multi-Language Release Strategy
“Baahubali: The Epic” will release simultaneously in five Indian languages, ensuring maximum reach across the country’s diverse linguistic landscape:
- Telugu – The original language and primary market
- Hindi – North Indian market
- Tamil – Tamil Nadu and international Tamil-speaking audiences
- Kannada – Karnataka market
- Malayalam – Kerala market
This multi-language strategy mirrors the approach that made the original films pan-Indian blockbusters, breaking down regional barriers that traditionally limited Indian cinema’s reach. Separate trailers have been released for each language version, with customized marketing campaigns targeting specific regional audiences.
The multilingual release ensures that “Baahubali: The Epic” can capitalize on nostalgia and renewed interest across India’s entire theatrical market, not just the Telugu-speaking regions where the franchise originated.
Box Office Expectations and Advance Booking
Even before its official release, “Baahubali: The Epic” has generated substantial commercial interest. Booking has already crossed ₹5 crore globally, with several days remaining before the October 31 release date. Industry analysts expect this figure to increase substantially as the release date approaches, particularly once word-of-mouth from the October 29 international premieres begins circulating.
For context, “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” remains the highest-grossing Indian film in North America even after 8 years, having collected over $20 million in that market alone. The film also achieved the historic milestone of becoming India’s first ₹1,000-crore movie domestically, shattering all previous box office records.
While “Baahubali: The Epic” is technically a re-release, industry experts believe it could create new records in the re-release category due to several factors:
- The massive IMAX and premium format release
- A decade’s worth of new audience members who never experienced the theatrical version
- Enhanced technical quality providing additional value
- The convenience of experiencing the complete saga in one sitting
- Nostalgia factor for original viewers
Producer Shobu Yarlagadda has indicated that the release is targeting a very wide distribution, leaving no stone unturned in making it as big a spectacle as the original releases.
The Cultural Phenomenon: Why Baahubali Still Matters
The original Baahubali saga represented a watershed moment for Indian cinema, demonstrating that Indian productions could compete globally not just in diaspora markets but in mainstream international cinema. The films’ success preceded and paved the way for subsequent Indian blockbusters that have achieved international recognition, including Rajamouli’s own “RRR”.
The franchise’s impact extended far beyond box office numbers. The question “Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?” and the cliffhanger ending of the first film became a cultural phenomenon in India, sparking countless memes, discussions, and theories during the two-year wait for the sequel. This level of cultural penetration was unprecedented for a regional Indian film, uniting audiences across linguistic and geographic boundaries.
Rana Daggubati emphasized the emotional dimension of this re-release, stating it is “not just a film, but an emotional experience that will take audiences back to a world” that captured the nation’s imagination. The re-release taps into this nostalgia while offering technical enhancements that provide value even for those who saw the original films theatrically.
Release Schedule: Premieres and Worldwide Launch
The phased release strategy begins with international premieres on October 29, 2025, in select theaters across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. This early premiere serves multiple purposes:
- Generates initial reviews and word-of-mouth buzz
- Accommodates time zone differences for synchronized global marketing
- Allows diaspora audiences to experience the film ahead of the Indian release
- Creates social media momentum heading into the wider release
The worldwide theatrical release follows on October 31, 2025, coinciding with the Diwali festival period in India, traditionally one of the biggest windows for theatrical releases in the country. This strategic timing maximizes potential audiences, as families and friends gather for the festival and seek entertainment options.
The October 31 release will be simultaneous across all territories where the film is being distributed, ensuring a genuine global event rather than a staggered rollout.
Why Baahubali Still Resonates
A decade after its initial release, the Baahubali saga continues to resonate because it represents something rare in Indian cinema: a genuinely epic story told with uncompromising vision and ambition. The films demonstrated that Indian filmmakers could create spectacles rivaling Hollywood productions while remaining rooted in Indian mythology, aesthetics, and storytelling traditions.
The franchise’s themes of loyalty, betrayal, justice, sacrifice, and the struggle between duty and desire possess a universal appeal that transcends cultural boundaries. The question of why a loyal servant would kill his beloved king became a narrative hook that captivated millions, making the sequel one of the most anticipated films in Indian cinema history.
“Baahubali: The Epic” offers audiences the opportunity to relive this groundbreaking achievement or discover it for the first time, reimagined and remastered for a new era of cinema. As Rana Daggubati emphasized, it’s more than just a film; it’s an invitation to return to the world of Mahishmati and experience the grandeur, emotions, and epic storytelling that united an entire nation in wonder.
