Prithviraj Sukumaran's Khalifa: The Ruler is streaming on six OTT platforms. They are Prime Video, Aha, ManoramaMax, Lionsgate Play, STARZPLAY and Simply South. The Malayalam action thriller was expected to shine but failed to impress audiences at the box office. Here's all about its poor box office reception and OTT release details:
How Khalifa Failed At Box Office?
Khalifa released on August 20 and got mixed to negative reviews. The opening day was strong, helped by the pre-release buzz and a cameo by Mohanlal. But poor word of mouth kept it from holding on.
According to Sacnilk, the Malayalam movie opened with Rs 5.35 crore net in India. Collections fell from Day 2, when it earned Rs 2.40 crore.
In the days that followed, it never came close to the opening-day numbers. By the end of the first week, its daily collections could not touch the Rs 1 crore mark.
Khalifa has earned Rs 45.05 crore gross worldwide so far. This includes Rs 24.92 crore from India and Rs 20.13 crore from overseas. Its net collection stands at Rs 21.58 crore across 14,795 shows.
The release of Nivin Pauly's Bethlehem Kudumba Unit also affected Prithviraj Sukumaran's starrer.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, has earned Rs 330.93 crore gross worldwide. This includes Rs 192.48 crore from India and Rs 138.45 crore from overseas. Its net collection is Rs 164.91 crore across 68,022 shows. It has now become the biggest Mollywood grosser of all time.
Khalifa's exact budget has not been made public, but it is reportedly around Rs 50 crore. Going by that figure, the movie has not even recovered half its cost and has turned out to be a loss.
ALSO READ - List Of Top 10 Highest-Grossing Malayalam Movies Of 2026
Khalifa OTT Release Details
Releasing on six platforms should help the Malayalam movie Khalifa: The Ruler reach more viewers across regions.
OTT Platform | Available Audio Languages / Regional Availability |
Prime Video | Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi |
Prime Video (AP International) | Available in South Indian languages (for add-on subscribers) |
Lionsgate Play | Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi |
Aha | Tamil, Telugu |
Manorama Max | Malayalam |
Simply South | Available for global South Indian cinema viewers |
Starzplay | Available across Middle East and North Africa (MENA) |
ALSO READ - Khalifa Twitter Review: Is Prithviraj Sukumaran's Malayalam Movie A Hit Or A Miss For Action-Lovers?
The wait is almost over! 🔥 #KHALIFA is all set to entertain audiences on your favourite OTT platforms from October 9th! 🎬💥 Get ready to stream and enjoy! 🍿 https://t.co/5r7FnE8QgH
— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) October 8, 2026
What Is Khalifa All About?
Khalifa follows Aamir Ali, a carefree textile businessman. His life turns upside down when a crisis leads to his father's wrongful arrest. To save his family from ruin, Aamir finds out he is the heir to a powerful gold-smuggling family started by his grandfather, Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali.
To free his father and take revenge for his family, Aamir enters the corrupt criminal underworld. He uses his grandfather's old contacts in the syndicate. He goes from honest businessman to a feared smuggling kingpin, and fights a brutal battle for power and legacy against ruthless rivals.
Khalifa: The Ruler was seen as a strong contender for an Onam release. But it became Prithviraj's third flop in a row.
FAQ
1. Where can you stream Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Khalifa: The Ruler online?
The film is streaming across six OTT platforms: Prime Video, Aha, ManoramaMax, Lionsgate Play, STARZPLAY, and Simply South.
2. Why did Khalifa: The Ruler underperform at the box office?
It suffered a sharp drop in collections due to mixed-to-negative word of mouth and heavy competition from Nivin Pauly's Bethlehem Kudumba Unit.
3. What is the plot of Khalifa: The Ruler?
The movie follows Aamir Ali, a textile businessman who enters the criminal underworld to save his wrongly arrested father, unlocking his legacy as the heir to a powerful gold-smuggling dynasty.