The heist film that missed its Christmas mark and failed at the box office

History · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Intended as a festive 2024 blockbuster, the Telugu-language action comedy Robinhood faced unexpected delays and a disappointing theatrical debut. Despite a high-concept plot involving orphan-led heists and international locations, the film struggled to find its audience, ultimately becoming a significant box office failure.

Directed by Venky Kudumaria, Robinhood follows Ram, an orphan who adopts a life of crime to fund struggling orphanages after discovering that donations are being misappropriated for fame. The narrative weaves through Hyderabad, Munnar, and even Melbourne, Australia, as Ram attempts to dismantle the operations of Swamy, a drug dealer threatening local villages. The plot features Neera, the daughter of an Australian CEO, who travels to India to find her roots. During the conflict, Ram utilizes a digital strategy by hacking a villain's phone to plant false evidence. The ensemble cast includes Sreeleela, Vennela Kishore, and even Australian cricketer David Warner, who appears in a cameo role.

The film's production journey was marked by several shifts. Originally announced in March 2023 under the working title VNRTrio, the project's title was officially revealed on 26 January 2024. While the film was initially scheduled for a 25 December 2024 release to coincide with Christmas, the date was postponed for undisclosed reasons, eventually arriving in theaters on 28 March 2025.

Critical and commercial reception was largely negative. Critics from outlets such as The Hindu and The Indian Express described the film as a 'misfire' and 'listless,' with ratings as low as 2/5 stars. Financially, the film was a 'box office bomb,' earning only a fraction of its estimated ₹55–60 crore production budget. On its opening day, it grossed approximately ₹4.8 crore worldwide, facing stiff competition from other releases like Mad Square. The film's soundtrack, composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, featured singles like 'One More Time' and 'Wherever You Go.' Despite the theatrical struggle, the movie eventually reached the ZEE5 streaming platform in May 2025. The production was managed by Mythri Movie Makers and involved filming across diverse locations including Munnar.

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