The much anticipated space drama Project Hail Mary has finally arrived in Indian cinemas but not in the way many fans had hoped. Despite being specially designed for IMAX viewing the film has secured only a handful of IMAX screenings across the country leading to widespread disappointment among moviegoers.
Starring Ryan Gosling, the film had already been released internationally before making its debut in India on March 26. However its release was delayed due to the strong box office performance of Dhurandhar 2, which continues to dominate theatre screens.
Currently Project Hail Mary is playing on just five IMAX screens in India with limited shows in cities such as Mumbai Pune and Kolkata. Reports suggest that the majority of IMAX screens have been allocated to Dhurandhar 2 due to its impressive earnings and sustained audience demand.
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film is based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir. It follows the story of Ryland Grace an astronaut who wakes up alone on a spacecraft with no memory and must complete a critical mission to save humanity.
The film has received strong global praise for its visuals and storytelling with many critics highlighting its immersive space sequences that are best experienced on IMAX screens. This has made the lack of IMAX availability in India particularly frustrating for fans.
Social media platforms have seen a surge of reactions from audiences questioning why a film created for IMAX is not being widely shown in the format. Many users expressed disappointment with cinema chains and distributors pointing out the contradiction in promoting large screen experiences without providing IMAX access.
While some viewers acknowledged the commercial logic behind prioritising Dhurandhar 2 due to its box office success others argued that audiences should be given a choice especially when a visually driven film like Project Hail Mary is involved.
The situation also highlights the growing influence of Indian cinema globally as well as the competitive nature of theatrical releases where screen allocation often depends on revenue performance.
Despite the limited IMAX presence Project Hail Mary continues to run in theatres worldwide attracting audiences eager to experience its unique take on space exploration and survival.
