Let me be honest with you. When a film has a ₹130 crore budget and a director like Gowtam Tinnanuri (the man behind the masterpiece Jersey), expectations go through the roof .
So when Kingdom hit theaters on July 31, 2025, fans showed up in massive numbers. The opening day collection? A solid ₹15.50 crore in India . Not bad at all.
But here is the real question. Is the film actually good? Or does it collapse under its own weight?
I have gone through multiple critic reviews, box office reports, and audience reactions. Let me break down everything you need to know before you press play on Netflix (where it started streaming from August 27, 2025) .
Quick Facts: What You Need to Know
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Director | Gowtam Tinnanuri |
| Lead Cast | Vijay Deverakonda, Satyadev, Bhagyashri Borse |
| Release Date | July 31, 2025 |
| Running Time | 160 minutes |
| Budget | ₹130 crore |
| Box Office | ₹82.02 crore worldwide |
| Verdict | Underperformed / Flop |
| OTT Platform | Netflix (from August 27, 2025) |
| Music | Anirudh Ravichander |
Source: Wikipedia, NDTV, OTTPlay
The Plot: What Is Kingdom About?
The story jumps between two timelines.
1920s Srikakulam: A group of tribals, along with their king, try to stop the British from mining gold on their land. They fail. The king dies without revealing a prophecy about a future descendant .
1990s: Enter Constable Byreddy Surya “Suri” (Vijay Deverakonda). He is an aggressive but well-meaning police officer. He lost his elder brother Siva (Satyadev) during childhood after they killed their abusive father .
A RAW handler named Jayaprakash (Manish Chaudhari) recruits Suri for an undercover mission. The target? A heavily fortified island off Sri Lanka called “Divi.” A massive arms and gold smuggling operation runs from there .
Here is the twist. Suri discovers that his long-lost brother Siva is the leader of a tribal group living on Divi. Now Suri must choose between his duty to the country and his blood .
Sounds promising, right? Well, hold that thought.
The Good: Where Kingdom Shines
Vijay Deverakonda’s Performance
Let me give credit where it is due. Vijay Deverakonda delivers .
One reviewer puts it perfectly: “VD makes a roar with his acting in the film” . Another says he “steps into the shoes of a righteous and fierce spy” and his “transformation feels organic” .
The actor shaved his head for the role. He plays Suri with a restrained intensity. You see the pain. You see the anger. You see a man trying to find his place in the world .
If you watch Kingdom for one reason only, watch it for Vijay Deverakonda.
Satyadev as the Brother
Satyadev plays Siva, the elder brother. And he holds his own against Vijay .
The two actors share “several scenes brimming with vulnerability” and bring “an emotional intensity that doesn’t find a match in the scriptwriting” . That last part is important. More on that later.
Technical Brilliance
The camera work? Stunning.
Cinematographers Girish Gangadharan and Jomon T. John capture some “stunning frames that elevate the film’s aesthetic” . The visuals carry a gritty, textured look that fits the dark tone .
And Anirudh Ravichander’s background score? “Pulse-pounding” is the right word . The music elevates key scenes, including the climactic sequence .
Venkitesh as the Villain
Here is a pleasant surprise. Venkitesh V.P., playing the antagonist Murugan, “chews the scenery every time he is on screen” .
For the few sequences he dominates, the film comes alive. He looks like he is having genuine fun. Too bad the writing does not give him enough to work with .
The Bad: Where Kingdom Stumbles
The Emotional Core Falls Flat
This is the biggest problem. And it is a big one.
Gowtam Tinnanuri made Jersey—a film that made grown men cry. The emotional depth in that movie was unreal. But Kingdom? Not even close.
The Indian Express review sums it up: “Despite the painstaking setup, Kingdom never truly tethers us emotionally to its story” . The film “runs frantic and incoherent, and winds up a tad exhausted from the weight of its own ambition” .
Cinema Express agrees: “Kingdom is an ambitious failure, somewhat admirable but largely underwhelming” .
Why does this happen? Too many elements on the platter.
The Screenplay Is a Mess
Let me list what this film tries to do:
- A brotherly reunion story
- A spy thriller
- A tribal uprising historical drama
- A commentary on bonded slavery
- A cartel power struggle
That is too much. And the film fails to do justice to most of them .
An IMDb user review notes: “When the emotional buildup finally leads to the reveal, the payoff feels flat. The second half suffers due to underwhelming subplots” .
Illogical Plot Points
Deccan Chronicle gave the film 1.5/5 stars. Their verdict is harsh but not wrong:
“The idea of a few smugglers taking on military force on foreign soil is hard to digest and weakens the film’s dramatic stakes” .
The plot stretches credibility. A constable going undercover in another country? Fighting the Sri Lankan army? Retrieving hidden gold? It feels detached from reality .
Bhagyashri Borse Has Nothing to Do
Poor Bhagyashri Borse. She plays Dr. Madhu, Suri’s love interest. But her role is so underwritten that one user joked she appears for “close to three minutes in the entire film” .
Cinema Express confirms: “Bhagyashri Borse doesn’t have much to do in the film, unfortunately” .
The Second Half Drags
Multiple reviews mention this. The first half builds momentum. The interval block works. But then the film loses steam .
The climax feels rushed. It does not land the way you expect from a film with this tone . And at 160 minutes, your patience will run thin .
Box Office: A Commercial Failure
Let me give you the numbers. They are not pretty.
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Budget | ₹130 crore |
| Worldwide Gross | ₹82.02 crore |
| Opening Day (India) | ₹15.50 crore |
| Week 1 Net (India) | ₹45.94 crore |
Source: Wikipedia, NDTV, IMDb News
The film recovered only about 35% of its budget in the opening week . That is a clear commercial failure.
For comparison, Kingdom opened higher than Vijay’s previous films The Family Star (₹5.75 crore) and Khushi (₹15.25 crore). But it could not beat Liger (₹15.95 crore) .
Verdict? Underperformer. Flop.
OTT Reception: Even Worse Than Theaters
Here is something interesting. The film started streaming on Netflix from August 27, 2025 .
You would think the OTT release would bring more love. Nope.
OTTPlay reports: “The film is being trolled for its slow pace and lack of proper narrative. Kingdom is a bigger flop on OTT than in theaters” .
Viewers complain about:
- No standout action sequences
- Painfully long runtime
- Lack of goosebump moments
- Many people leaving the film midway
Ouch.
The Sequel Question: Will There Be a Kingdom Part 2?
The film ends on a cliffhanger. Sethu, Odiyappan’s elder son, arrives in Divi to avenge his brother Murugan’s death. And Singha finally finds a photo of Suri in his police uniform .
The makers planned Kingdom as the first part of a duology .
But here is the problem. With the first part underperforming so badly, will the second part even happen?
OTTPlay reports: “There is news that the makers will not go ahead with the second part” .
Deccan Chronicle adds: “After such a shaky first outing, the prospect of Kingdom Part 2 is hardly enticing” .
Do not hold your breath for a sequel.
Controversy: Sri Lankan Tamil Representation
The film did not escape controversy either.
Kingdom is set in Sri Lanka during the civil war. But some viewers complained that Sri Lankan Tamils were portrayed as the bad guys .
The makers reportedly apologized. But by then, the damage was done. The controversy did not help the film’s already struggling run .
Final Verdict: Should You Watch Kingdom?
Here is my honest take.
Watch Kingdom if:
- You are a Vijay Deverakonda fan and want to see him in a raw, intense role
- You appreciate stunning cinematography and a thumping background score
- You have 160 minutes to spare and low expectations
- You want to watch it for free on Netflix (do not pay for a ticket)
Skip Kingdom if:
- You expect tight storytelling and logical plots
- Emotional depth matters to you (watch Jersey instead)
- You hate slow second halves and rushed climaxes
- You get frustrated by films that try to do too much and fail at most
Ratings from Critics
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| Cinema Express | 2.5/5 |
| The Indian Express | 2.5/5 |
| Deccan Chronicle | 1.5/5 |
| IMDb (User) | 6/10 |
Source: Cinema Express, Indian Express, Deccan Chronicle, IMDb
My Personal Score: 5.5/10
Kingdom is not a terrible film. It is a frustrating film. You see flashes of brilliance. Vijay Deverakonda gives everything he has. The technical team works magic. Anirudh’s score will stay in your head for days.
But the script lets everyone down. Too many ideas. Not enough focus. An emotional core that never quite lands.
Watch it on Netflix with moderate expectations. You might enjoy the ride. Just do not expect Jersey level magic.
And if you hear news about Kingdom Part 2? Do not get excited until you see the trailer.
Leave a comment