Mumbai, November 9, 2026: Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana entered the international market with ambitions extending well beyond the traditional overseas release of an Indian film. Sony Pictures took charge of distribution outside India, backed by an extensive promotional campaign and a reported $10 million international marketing investment. With Indian spectacles such as 2.0, Brahmastra and Kalki 2898 AD having already demonstrated the appeal of premium theatrical formats, Ramayana was positioned to take that ambition to a wider global audience.
The strategy appears to have delivered an encouraging start. According to Variety, the Nitesh Tiwari directorial has registered the biggest worldwide IMAX opening for an Indian film, with the premium format accounting for approximately 11% of its opening weekend global business. Its four-day extended opening weekend overseas collection is estimated at $23.7 million, led by North America, while several additional international markets are still awaiting release.The figures remain provisional and are subject to revision as final Sunday collections are confirmed.
Ramayana Overseas Box Office Collection by Territory
Beyond North America, the United Kingdom has delivered one of the film’s strongest openings, while the UAE and Australia have also contributed significantly. The performance in Thailand, the Netherlands and South Africa is particularly noteworthy, with opening records for an Indian film in these markets.
Source: Variety. Territory figures are preliminary opening estimates. The film’s overall overseas collection is estimated at $23.7 million, including markets not individually listed above.
Beyond the conventional box office, Ramayana has also set a new global IMAX opening record for an Indian film, grossing approximately $6 million worldwide in the premium format, according to Variety. The performance included a record $2 million opening in India, while North America’s 53 IMAX screens contributed around $2.5 million. The achievement highlights the commercial importance of premium theatrical formats to a production designed around large-scale visual presentation, adding another dimension to its international opening.
These results reflect two different sources of international demand. North America, the UK, the UAE and Australia remain important markets because of their established Indian audience base, while the smaller European and Asian territories offer opportunities for the adaptation to reach beyond its traditional audience. The opening figures are encouraging, although sustained business in these markets will be a better measure of the film’s broader appeal.
Ramayana’s International Release Continues Until November 26
Unlike a conventional simultaneous worldwide release, Ramayana is following a staggered international schedule. Several territories are yet to receive the film, meaning the first four-day overseas estimate does not represent its complete geographical reach. The next phase begins with Indonesia on November 11, followed by further releases across Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Source: Variety. Scheduled theatrical release dates may be subject to changes .
The phased rollout gives Sony Pictures, which is handling the film’s international distribution, an opportunity to sustain overseas revenue beyond its initial opening weekend. However, these additional releases are generally smaller markets, and their contribution will depend on local screen availability, language accessibility and audience response rather than the number of countries alone.
Ramayana Crosses ₹500 Crore Worldwide in Four Days
Meanwhile, according to Sacnilk’s box office tracking, Ramayana is estimated to have crossed the ₹500 crore worldwide milestone in its four-day extended opening weekend, with a gross of ₹507.20 crore, comprising ₹285.20 crore India gross and ₹222 crore overseas. International markets contributed approximately 43.8% of the worldwide total, highlighting their importance to the film’s opening performance. The overseas and worldwide figures remain provisional, as Sunday’s collections are yet to be finalised and the totals may be revised.
With the domestic Diwali holiday continuing and several international territories yet to open, Ramayana has further opportunities to expand its theatrical business. The immediate focus overseas will be whether its strong opening markets maintain their momentum while the second phase of international releases begins contributing to the total.
Stay tuned…