The box office clash between Dhurandhar 2 and Project Hail Mary has taken a dramatic turn in India. What initially looked like a one-sided dominance by the Bollywood blockbuster has now flipped completely, with the Hollywood sci-fi giant emerging as the new leader—especially in premium formats like IMAX.

Strong Start for Dhurandhar 2, But Momentum Slows

Starring Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar 2 opened to massive numbers in India and quickly established itself as a box office force. The film has reportedly crossed ₹15 billion globally, with a significant portion of its earnings coming from the domestic market.

However, its overseas performance has been relatively weak, failing to cross ₹4 billion. Despite this, the film’s stronghold in India initially forced several other releases to postpone their schedules, avoiding direct competition.

For a while, it seemed like no film would dare challenge its dominance—until Project Hail Mary entered the scene.

Project Hail Mary’s Strategic Comeback

Featuring Ryan Gosling, Project Hail Mary faced early hurdles in India, particularly in securing IMAX screens. The film reportedly had to delay its release in premium formats during its first week due to the overwhelming presence of Dhurandhar 2.

But things changed quickly.

Driven by strong audience demand and positive word-of-mouth, the film managed to secure a large number of IMAX shows from its second week onward. This shift has significantly altered the box office dynamics.

IMAX Screen Battle: The Game Changer

The biggest turning point came with IMAX scheduling across India. As of April 3, Project Hail Mary is reportedly running 108 shows per day across 34 IMAX screens, making it the dominant film in premium formats.

In comparison:

• Dhurandhar 2 has dropped to just 21 IMAX shows daily
• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is running around 66 shows per day

This massive gap highlights how quickly audience preferences have shifted.

IMAX screens are crucial for high-budget films, as they generate higher ticket prices and attract premium audiences. Losing this segment has directly impacted Dhurandhar 2’s revenue potential.

Changing Show Timings Reflect Decline

The impact is clearly visible in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata.

In several IMAX theatres:

• Dhurandhar 2 has been pushed to late-night slots (post 11:30 PM)
• Some locations have removed it entirely from premium screens
• Project Hail Mary continues to dominate prime-time slots

This shift in scheduling reflects where audience demand currently lies.

Box Office Numbers Tell the Story

Project Hail Mary has already:

• Crossed approximately ₹28.47 billion in India
• Earned ₹3.55 billion in a single day (Friday)
• Touched nearly ₹31 billion globally

With such momentum, the film is expected to continue its strong run in India and may soon cross even bigger milestones.

Why Project Hail Mary Overtook Dhurandhar 2

Several key factors contributed to this turnaround:

1. Audience Demand

The sci-fi spectacle generated massive curiosity and repeat viewership, especially in IMAX.

2. Premium Screen Advantage

More IMAX shows directly translated into higher revenue per screen.

3. Positive Word-of-Mouth

Strong reviews and audience reactions helped sustain its growth beyond the opening week.

4. Global Appeal

Unlike Dhurandhar 2, which relied heavily on India, Project Hail Mary is performing strongly worldwide.

Final Verdict

While Dhurandhar 2 started as the undisputed king of the Indian box office, the rise of Project Hail Mary has reshaped the competition entirely. The battle is no longer just about collections—it’s about screen dominance, audience preference, and long-term sustainability.

With IMAX screens now firmly in its grip, Project Hail Mary has not just challenged but effectively overtaken Dhurandhar 2 in India’s premium box office race.