Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli has re-edited his epic Baahubali saga into a single 3-hour-58-minute film, Baahubali: The Epic, to mark the 10th anniversary of the original release. Distributed by Variance Films, the movie launched on premium large format screens across the U.S. this week. It aims to bring the story to both longtime fans and new audiences with updated visuals and sound.
Release Details
Baahubali: The Epic combines Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) into one continuous narrative. Rajamouli personally cut and reshaped the original 5-hour-27-minute saga to fit under four hours, preserving the scale and emotion while making tough edits. The film includes an intermission between the two parts, a tradition in Indian cinema that previously succeeded in the U.S. with The Brutalist.
The release began Wednesday, October 30, 2025, on 131 premium large format (PLF) screens, including IMAX, Dolby Cinema at AMC, Cinemark XD, Regal RPX, 4DX, and D-Box. Thursday featured sneak previews, followed by a nationwide opening Friday on over 400 screens, with 60 dedicated to weeklong PLF engagements. To prioritize accessibility, all tickets, including PLF, are priced at standard rates, and subscription services like AMC A-List and Regal Unlimited are valid from the first show.
Rajamouli's Vision
In a director's note, Rajamouli explained the project's purpose: "It’s been ten years since Baahubali: The Beginning first hit theatres. What followed the release surpassed anything we could have imagined... Now, with Baahubali: The Epic, I edited both films into one continuous and immersive experience to celebrate the 10th anniversary."
He highlighted updates to visuals and sound for modern cinema technology, especially IMAX and Dolby formats, to make the world of Mahishmati more vivid. The edit targets both repeat viewers—who recall the iconic question "Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?"—and newcomers discovering the films via streaming, memes, or the success of Rajamouli's RRR. "This version is for those who stood in line on Day One... and for those who missed the chance to witness it in theatres," Rajamouli added.
Variance Films, known for the U.S. distribution of RRR, positions this as a fan-focused event to boost theater attendance over box office grosses.