Ramayana Sets Early Australia Release for November 5 Ahead of Godzilla Minus Zero Clash

Sony Pictures Australia has confirmed that Ramayana: Part 1 will open in Australian cinemas on November 5, 2026, one day ahead of its previously announced global release date. The move gives the Ranbir Kapoor and Yash starrer a head start over Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus Zero, which opens internationally on November 6.

Sony Pictures Australia shared the trailer on X along with the caption, ‘An epic journey unlike anything seen before. Watch the official trailer for #Ramayana, coming to Australian cinemas November 5.’ The early release allows the Indian epic to begin its theatrical run before the Godzilla sequel arrives in the same market.

Global Release Plan

Ramayana: Part 1 is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, DNEG, and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman, with Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.

The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on November 6, 2026, followed by its Indian theatrical debut on November 8 during the Diwali weekend. Ramayana: Part 2 is slated for release during Diwali 2027. The first part ends on a cliffhanger, according to director Nitesh Tiwari, who previously explained the decision to split the epic into two parts.

The production has been mounted on a massive scale, with reported budgets of approximately Rs 1,900-2,000 crore for Part One alone. Some industry estimates place the combined two-part project at as high as Rs 4,000 crore. The film will release across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, with Sony Pictures also backing an English-language version for international markets.

Competition for Premium Screens

Godzilla Minus Zero is written, directed, and VFX-supervised by Takashi Yamazaki. The film stars Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe reprising their roles from Godzilla Minus One, which won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2024. Minus Zero opens in Japan on November 3 and rolls out internationally on November 6.

Both films are expected to compete for premium-format and IMAX screens overseas. Godzilla Minus Zero is the first Japanese production filmed specifically for IMAX, while Ramayana has been designed with IMAX presentation in mind and features extensive visual effects work by DNEG.

Production Details

Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar revealed that every shot in Ramayana was pre-visualised using motion capture technology before filming began. Kumar, who shot the film alongside Mahesh Limaye, said, ‘Nitesh and I would sit together and mull over the shots.’ He also stated, ‘There is a visual spectacle element that everyone will expect from a subject that is so dear to Indian culture. I approach every scene keeping in mind, I don’t lose the emotional connect, while ensuring that we shoot in the manner that an epic story like this deserves.’

Stunt expert Rishabh Tyagi disclosed that Sunny Deol’s Hanuman features an elaborate fire sequence depicting the character’s journey to Lanka. Tyagi said, ‘We’re working on a frame in Ramayana, where Hanumanji goes to Lanka. That is by far the biggest fire sequence, of my life and probably even in Indian movie cinema.’ He added that the sequence took nearly two months to film. It remains unclear whether the sequence will appear in Part 1 or Part 2.

Music and Promotions

Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman have collaborated on the film’s score. The two composers are set to host a musical evening dedicated to Ramayana: Part 1 in London on October 20, likely at the Royal Albert Hall. The event is expected to feature the cast and filmmakers ahead of the film’s second trailer, which is expected around October 23.

Ranbir Kapoor is scheduled to lead a fan event in Delhi on October 31, while Yash will host a fan meet-up in Bengaluru on November 1. A Hyderabad event featuring Sai Pallavi is also reportedly planned. The makers have additionally revived plans for a grand Dubai premiere, internally referred to as the ‘Desert Premiere,’ with October 28 being considered as a tentative date.

Yash’s Distribution Deal

Reports indicate that Yash has opted out of a fixed acting fee of approximately Rs 100 crore for both parts of Ramayana. Instead, he has reportedly taken the South Indian theatrical distribution rights for both films as compensation. The arrangement, first reported in early September, has not been officially confirmed by the actor or the producers.

The latest confirmed status is that Ramayana: Part 1 will open in Australian cinemas on November 5, 2026, ahead of its worldwide release on November 6 and its India debut on November 8. Pre-release promotional activities, including the London musical evening and fan events in Delhi and Bengaluru, are scheduled for late October and early November.