After garnering success and praise across India, SS Rajamouli's RRR is now impressing international publications after its debut on Netflix. American newspaper USA Today has ranked it number 1 on its list of best movies of 2022. The Telugu movie has beaten Hollywood's favourite titles like The Batman and Top Gun Maverick to get to the top.
USA Today called RRR an "exuberant and bromantic 1920s-set Indian musical epic". The publication described the movie as a Bollywood movie in the Telugu language that looks like a combination of Marvel and Fast & Furious.
RRR was released on March 24, 2022, and received an outstanding response. The movie had an opening collection of over Rs 100 crore. Starring Jr NTR and Ram Charan in lead roles, the plot deals with the fictional story of two real-life Indian revolutionaries during the freedom movement during British Raj. Director Rajamauli came up with the story by wondering what would have happened if freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem had met and been friends.
The film was made on a budget of Rs 550 crore and has already grossed approximately 1,200 crores. The film did not receive much attention in the US theatres but started gaining traction after streaming on Netflix.
Many international filmmakers and critics have already taken to social media to praise the film. Writer Jordan Crucchiola tweeted a gif from the movie and wrote "watch rise, roar, revolt, and be reborn!!! RRR gang, let's dance". Israel's longest-running newspaper RRR also gave the film a stellar review and particularly praised Jr NTR's performance.
Director Ben David Grabinski tweeted: "I didn't know movies could be that good". Music Producer Leslie Wai said he cannot have enough of the film and is going to watch it a second time. He tweeted: "My best theater experience to date. Indian cinema is highly underrated in the states. My fellow white people, I don't think you realize what you're missing". He also thanked Rajamouli for making another "heartbreaking badass piece of film".