The mythological epic Ramayana: Part One has been creating waves internationally, with tickets available for purchase for over two weeks. By Thursday, the film had already raked in approximately USD 2.85 million in overseas markets, which translates to a whopping Rs. 27 crore. A significant portion of this, including USD 875,000 from Wednesday previews in North America, was earned on the opening day alone. Enthusiasts in the Middle East, a major hub for Indian cinema, are still eagerly awaiting its release.
Comparisons with Bollywood Giants
When stacked against Bollywood blockbusters, Ramayana holds its own. It’s currently over 80% ahead of Jawan‘s pre-sales, excluding Middle Eastern markets, yet trails behind Dhurandhar: The Revenge by about 25%. The latter boasted extraordinary pre-sales, reminiscent of cinematic legends like Dhoom 3 and Baahubali 2. Earlier this year, Jawan dazzled with a USD 21 million opening over a bustling four-day weekend, while Dhurandhar was barred from seeking vengeance.
U.S. Buzz and Beyond
In the United States, where pre-sales buzz is strongest, Ramayana is on track to collect nearly USD 2 million over the weekend. It’s surging more than 150% ahead of Jawan but still trails Dhurandhar 2 by 15-20%. In Hindi diaspora hotbeds like California and Illinois, the film is eclipsing Dhurandharwhile in Texas and New Jersey, where a robust Telugu audience bolstered Dhurandhar‘s numbers, it falls slightly short.
Global Enthusiasm
Other international territories are also abuzz. Australia and Canada are witnessing the second-highest pre-sales for a Hindi film, second only to Dhurandhar. Germany and the United Kingdom have shown immense support, though they trail behind Jawan in this regard. If the current pre-sale trends are any indication, Ramayana is set to make a grand entrance with an opening weekend haul of at least USD 20 million, with the potential to soar to USD 25 million.