Nitesh Tiwari's much-awaited Ramayana: Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, will reach Australian cinemas a day ahead of its scheduled worldwide release, giving the Indian epic an early international start during the Diwali season.

The film is now set to open in Australia on November 5, 2026, while its wider international and Indian theatrical release is scheduled for November 6. The early overseas rollout comes as Ramayana faces a major box-office clash with the Hollywood film Godzilla Minus Zero, which is also targeting the Diwali period.

Why Ramayana Is Releasing Early in Australia

The Australian release gives Ramayana: Part 1 a one-day head start in an important overseas market. The decision appears aimed at maximising the film's international theatrical opportunity before the wider Diwali-weekend competition begins.

The makers have positioned Ramayana as a global-scale Indian production, and its international release strategy is therefore an important part of the film's theatrical campaign. The film is expected to be released worldwide on November 6. 

Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Yash as Ravana

The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman, while Ravi Dubey has been cast as Lakshman.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part 1 is the first instalment of a planned two-part adaptation of the Indian epic. The project has attracted considerable attention because of its large-scale production, extensive visual effects and international ambitions.

The film's technical preparation has also been unusually extensive. Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar recently revealed that the team pre-visualised every shot using motion-capture technology during production planning, allowing Tiwari and the crew to work out the visual language before filming. 

Diwali Box Office Clash With Godzilla

The November release places Ramayana directly in the middle of one of the year's most important theatrical windows.

The film's early Australian release comes amid competition from Godzilla Minus Zero. The Hollywood title's arrival around the same festive period means international markets could become an important battleground for both films.

For Ramayana, the Australia advance could help the film begin its overseas run before the wider international market becomes crowded.

Film Has Already Generated Casting Debate

Even before its theatrical release, Ramayana has attracted discussion around its casting and interpretation of the epic.

Shiv Sagar, grandson of filmmaker Ramanand Sagar, recently questioned Ranbir Kapoor's suitability for the role of Lord Ram while praising Yash's casting as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita. His comments reflect an ongoing public debate about how the revered characters should be portrayed on screen. 

Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has also expressed reservations about Kapoor's casting, particularly in the context of his previous role in Animal. These are individual opinions rather than an indication of the film's final audience response. 

What to Expect From Ramayana Part 1

The film is being mounted on a large scale with Prime Focus Studios, Monster Mind Creations and DNEG involved in its production and visual-effects work. The cast also includes several established actors in supporting roles. 

With the Australian release now scheduled for November 5 and the broader theatrical rollout beginning November 6, Ramayana: Part 1 is heading into a highly competitive Diwali window.

The early Australia opening will provide the first indication of international audience interest before the film's wider global release.

Marvel fans hoping to watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day on the big IMAX screen will need to look elsewhere when the Tom Holland and Zendaya-starrer opens in Indian theatres next month. Sony Pictures has confirmed that the film will skip an IMAX release in the country altogether.

The reason traces back to a scheduling clash with Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which arrives in cinemas just two weeks before Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Nolan's film was shot entirely on IMAX cameras, and as per the studio's announcement, it has locked in an exclusive IMAX run from July 17 to August 14 across several markets, including India. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, scheduled for release on July 31, falls squarely within that window, leaving it without access to IMAX screens for its opening run.

Sony Pictures addressed the situation directly, stating that while there will be no IMAX release for the Marvel film in India, it will instead be available across premium large-format, or PLF, screens, which the studio is positioning as an equally immersive big-screen option for audiences.

That explanation has not entirely satisfied fans. Several took to social media to express disappointment, with some pointing out that they had planned trips to other cities specifically to catch the film in IMAX, and others questioning why a Spider-Man release would be denied even a limited number of IMAX screenings given the franchise's pull in India. The frustration has been visible across studio social handles since the news broke.

Adding an unusual twist to the situation is the overlap in casting. Tom Holland and Zendaya, who lead Spider-Man: Brand New Day, also feature in The Odyssey, meaning the two actors are effectively competing against their own film for IMAX screen space this summer.

While one fanbase is disappointed, anticipation for The Odyssey shows no signs of slowing down. Advance bookings for its IMAX 70mm screenings reportedly sold out within hours of going live, reflecting the scale of demand Nolan's films tend to generate, particularly in the large-format segment.

The clash also highlights just how packed IMAX's 2026 release calendar already is. The year opened with Mercy on January 23, followed by The Bride! and Project Hail Mary in March, then The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael in April. The summer stretch alone features Mortal Kombat II, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Toy Story 5, Supergirl, Minions 3 and Moana, before The Odyssey takes over IMAX screens from mid-July. Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: Part 1 is also lined up for an IMAX run later in the year, adding to an unusually competitive slate for premium-format screen time.

For now, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will lean on its PLF release to draw audiences when it opens on July 31, even as the IMAX question continues to be a talking point among fans in the lead-up to the film's debut.