Bollywood cleared its March 2026 slate ahead of the tsunami that is Dhurandhar: The Revenge. However, some Hollywood and regional films have stuck to their
scheduled releases this month. Amid the massive post-release buzz and dream box office run of Dhurandhar 2, Ryan Gosling’sProject Hail Mary is now hitting theatres. While it released in the United States and Canada on March 20, it is arriving in Indian cinemas on Thursday. Ahead of its release, however, the film is reportedly facing unexpected challenges at the box office. According to reports, Project Hail Mary’s bookings opened just a day before release and it has been struggling to secure screens due to Dhurandhar 2’s fast-selling shows. Project Hail Mary To Release In India Amid Dhurandhar 2 Storm Project Hail Mary, shot for IMAX, is expected to attract audiences on large-format screens. A trade source reportedly said that the film would likely share IMAX screens with Dhurandhar 2. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, some cinemas had briefly allocated shows to the Hollywood film before suspending bookings. After only limited advance sales in select locations, the bookings have now fully opened on BookMyShow. Around 25,000 tickets were reportedly sold for day one, but with IMAX bookings open, the numbers are expected to rise. Dhurandhar 2 Vs Project Hail Mary Meanwhile, an insider noted that Dhurandhar: The Revenge is performing exceptionally well, making exhibitors hesitant to reduce its shows. But strong advance bookings and positive international reviews for Gosling's sci-fi film have pushed distributors to seek more screens. The situation now seems to be sorted, with multiple shows available across different locations in India. Earlier, Project Hail Mary directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller reacted to the clash with Dhurandhar's sequel. They welcomed the competition, stating that strong local films are good for the global box office and for Bollywood. More About Project Hail Mary Project Hail Mary is a sci-fi film based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name. The story follows Dr Ryland Grace (played by Ryan), a school teacher stranded on a spacecraft. After waking up, he meets an alien named Rocky, who becomes his unlikely companion. As he regains his memory, Ryland learns that his mission is to save the Sun from a mysterious threat. Apart from Gosling, the film also stars Sandra Hüller, Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, Liz Kingsman, and James Ortiz in key roles.
