Ryan Gosling’s space drama Project Hail Mary opened in Indian theatres on Thursday, March 26 — a week after its global release — with a problem built right into the release: a film shot for IMAX has five IMAX screens in the entire country.
The other screens belong to Dhurandhar 2. The sequel closed Wednesday at ₹48 crore for the day, still in its first week. Multiplexes aren’t moving it. The math isn’t complicated.
What is complicated is explaining this to fans. Project Hail Mary is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, based on Andy Weir’s novel, and stars Gosling as Ryland Grace — a man who wakes up alone on an interstellar spacecraft with no memory of how he ended up there. Critics have been loud about the visuals. The IMAX format isn’t decorative; the film was made for it.
On Wednesday night, no IMAX shows were listed on any major ticketing app in India. Kochi and Coimbatore added slots, then pulled them without explanation. By Thursday morning, the tally was five — two in Mumbai, two in Pune, one in Kolkata.
Sony Pictures India’s social media took the heat. “Won’t be watching in a theatre unless it’s on IMAX. Sorry, the Indian theatre experience isn’t worth it anymore.” Another: “WTF happened to Filmed For IMAX?” PVR posted asking fans to watch on “the biggest screen,” which didn’t go over well either. “No IMAX screenings available for Project Hail Mary in Delhi, and still you post about it,” one person replied.
The part that’s hardest to shake: Dhurandhar 2 wasn’t filmed in IMAX. The screens holding out an IMAX-ready film are running a regular-format one. “Why are they not releasing IMAX shows for a movie filmed for IMAX??? What kind of greed is this,” went one comment. Most people seem to understand why Dhurandhar 2 has the real estate. That doesn’t mean they’re fine with it.
The delay itself happened because of Dhurandhar 2’s run. Phil Lord, speaking to Hindustan Times, took it as something close to a compliment. “I don’t need to tell you that often, when you look at the top 10 films in the United States, there would be a Bollywood film,” he said. “Those movies play in American theatres. Most Americans go ‘what’s that’, but there is a big audience for it.” Project Hail Mary also stars Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, and Lionel Boyce. It’s in theatres now, mostly not in IMAX.
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