Kingdom, starring Vijay Deverakonda and directed by Jersey fame Gowtam Tinnanuri, finally hit theaters on July 31 after multiple postponements.
Produced by Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, with music by Anirudh Ravichander and cinematography by Girish Gangadharan and Jomon T. John, the film has been one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
The film premiered in the US a day ahead of its Indian release, and early audience reactions have been a mixed bag.
While fans praised Vijay Deverakonda’s performance and the film’s technical aspects, many expressed disappointment with its pacing and emotional depth.
On X (formerly Twitter), users shared a variety of reactions:
“#Kingdom First Half Report: Opens with a strong, well-executed intro and sticks to a tight, engaging narrative. Minor pacing dips aside, it keeps the momentum going. Technically superb and sets the stage for a gripping second half!”
“#Kingdom: A strong First Half followed by an Above Average Second Half. #VijayDeverakonda delivers one of his best performances. Venky shines. #Anirudh’s BGM is top notch. Not perfect, but has its strengths.”
However, Reddit users were more critical.
One user wrote: “It’s not bad, it’s not good. Average movie. Doesn’t match expectations set by Jersey. The cinematography is stunning, and VD looks the gangster part. But the story feels hollow with unclear character motivations. The mystical explanation for the title felt silly.”
Another noted: “First half sets up well, but the background score felt weak and narration bland. There's little emotional connection despite solid performances. Ragile is a great track, but it doesn’t hit in the film. I left the theater underwhelmed despite wanting to love it.”
Yet another commented: “Simple review – the story is a letdown. You're watching it for Vijay’s acting, the elevation scenes, and Anirudh’s music. Didn’t expect this from the director of Jersey. There are moments that shine, but the overall story doesn’t hold up.”
In summary, Kingdom appears to be a visually rich film with strong performances and music, but mixed narrative execution.
While die-hard fans of Vijay and Gowtam Tinnanuri may still enjoy the ride, others may walk away feeling the film didn’t quite live up to its promise.
