Indian Movies in US Theaters This Christmas (2026)

For Indian families in the US, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is movie week: everyone is off work, the cousins are in town, and the local theater suddenly has three Indian films on its marquee. This year it is more crowded than ever, because Hollywood stacked Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three and Jumanji into the same stretch. Here is the full calendar so you can plan, and book, early.

Indian movies in US theaters: December 2026 calendar

Indian films usually open in the US on the same date as India, and big Telugu releases often add paid premiere shows the evening before. So if you want a December 23 night show for Dada or King100, watch for premiere listings at theaters that regularly book Telugu films. Dates can still shift, so check again in early December.

King: Shah Rukh Khan’s Christmas Eve release

Siddharth Anand’s King is Shah Rukh Khan’s first release since Dunki in December 2023 and reunites him with Deepika Padukone for their sixth film together. Phars Film now handles the overseas release. Expect it in a wide range of US theaters, though not in IMAX during the opening weeks, because Dune: Part Three holds those screens.

Dada vs King100: the Telugu Christmas clash

Telugu cinema has its own showdown on the same day. Dada, previously known as NBK111, is Balakrishna’s action entertainer directed by Gopichand Malineni, with Kajal Aggarwal and Manoj Manchu in key roles. King100 is Nagarjuna’s 100th film, written and directed by Ra Karthik. Trade reports expected one of the two to move, but both have stuck to December 24 so far.

For US audiences, that means Telugu-heavy theaters in places like Dallas, the Bay Area, New Jersey and Atlanta may split screens between two star films and King, so showtimes could be thinner than usual per film.

What about Fauzi?

Prabhas’s Fauzi was originally dated for December 3, which is why some older calendars still list it. The makers have moved it to March 19, 2027, so it will not be in theaters this Christmas.

The Hollywood films you’re competing with for seats

This matters because theaters have only so many screens. Hollywood tentpoles take the biggest rooms and the most showtimes, and Indian films get what is left. Shows for King and the Telugu releases may sell out faster than you are used to.

Tips for booking Indian movies in the US this Christmas

• Book the day sales open. Christmas Eve and the weekend after are the busiest shows of the year.
• Check the language. Telugu films may also play in dubbed Hindi or Tamil versions. Make sure your ticket says the language you want.
• Look beyond AMC. Theaters that specialize in Indian films often get more showtimes and premieres.
• Try weekdays. December 28 to 31 shows are easier to get than the opening weekend.

December release list: Sacnilk.

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