‘Project Hail Mary’ India Release: Ryan Gosling’s IMAX Space Drama Snubbed by Indian Theatres for ‘Dhurandhar 2’
Ryan Gosling’s ‘Project Hail Mary’ debuted in India on March 26, but fans are outraged as the 'Filmed for IMAX' epic secured only five premium screens nationwide. Most IMAX slots remain occupied by the blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar 2.’ Despite global acclaim for its space visuals, the film is facing a major format squeeze in the Indian market.
Sci-fi enthusiasts in India are expressing sharp disappointment as Project Hail Mary, the high-profile space drama starring Ryan Gosling, arrived in domestic theatres on Thursday, March 26, with a severely limited IMAX presence. Despite being "Filmed for IMAX," the Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directorial has secured only five IMAX screens nationwide, as exhibitors continue to prioritise the record-breaking run of the Indian spy thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The film’s Indian release was already delayed by a week to avoid the initial "Dhurandhar-wave," but the strategy has backfired for fans seeking the premium large-format experience. Ryan Gosling and Hrithik Roshan Tease ‘Project Hail Mary’ X ‘Koi Mil Gaya’ Crossover During Fun Interview (Watch Video)
Watch 'Project Hail Mary' Trailer:
'Project Hail Mary' Gets Limited IMAX Release
Project Hail Mary, based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir, was specifically engineered for the IMAX format to capture the vastness of interstellar space. However, as of Thursday morning, the film’s IMAX footprint in India is restricted to:
- Mumbai: 2 Screens
- Pune: 2 Screens
- Kolkata: 1 Screen
Major hubs like Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai currently have zero IMAX listings for the film. In cities like Kochi and Coimbatore, shows briefly appeared on ticketing platforms on Wednesday night before being pulled without explanation, leaving fans frustrated.
'Dhurandhar 2' Dominates IMAX Screens
The struggle for screen space is purely financial. Dhurandhar 2 earned INR 47.70 crore on Wednesday alone, maintaining massive occupancy even at the end of its first week. Theatre owners are hesitant to swap a proven domestic "monster hit" for a Hollywood sci-fi title, even one with global critical acclaim. The irony has not been lost on cinephiles. While Project Hail Mary was shot using IMAX-certified cameras, Dhurandhar 2 was filmed in a standard format. One viral tweet addressed to PVR Cinemas summarised the sentiment, “Why are they not releasing IMAX shows for a movie filmed for IMAX??? What kind of greed is this?” ‘Project Hail Mary’: Know About Ryan Gosling’s Sci-Fi Film Before India Release.
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Directors Praise 'Dhurandhar 2' Success
Despite the scheduling conflicts, directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller expressed a positive outlook on the dominance of Indian cinema. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Lord noted that the success of films like Dhurandhar 2 is a sign of India's growing "soft power" in the global market. “Often, when you look at the top 10 films in the United States, there would be a Bollywood film... Most Americans go ‘what’s that’, but there is a big audience for it.” Ryan Gosling Recalls 'trauma' from 'The Big Short'; Hesitated for 'Project Hail Mary'.
About the Film
Project Hail Mary stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a scientist who wakes up on a spacecraft with amnesia and must use his scientific knowledge to save humanity from an extinction-level threat. The film also stars Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), James Ortiz and Lionel Boyce. The movie has been praised globally for its "stunning visuals" and its faithful adaptation of Weir’s "hard sci-fi" mechanics, with many critics calling it Gosling's best performance since First Man.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 26, 2026 11:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).