Advance sales for Ramayana are live in select North American cinemas nearly a month before its Diwali release, and the early city split already reveals a trap for anyone reading the numbers at face value.
Dallas leads the map, but it is not a demand signal
Across reported bookings for the November 6 shows, Dallas accounts for 41%, Chicago for 22% and Washington, DC for 15%. The Dallas share, however, is being driven by a group or block booking rather than broad individual purchase. Chicago is the only market showing notable opening-day movement so far.
The listing picture is still incomplete. Independent cinema chains have started publishing showtimes, but IMAX shows are not open yet, and AMC locations and California cinemas have not appeared. That matters because the current city mix may shift sharply once more inventory is added.
- Dallas 41% – inflated by a block booking
- Chicago 22% – only market with real opening-day movement
- Washington, DC 15% – early reported share
- IMAX, AMC, California – not yet listed
Godzilla Minus Zero is tracking a $25M bow
The same November 6 corridor in North America brings Godzilla Minus Zero, with a special Godzilla Day IMAX early-access screening on November 3. Early estimates put its North American opening weekend at around USD 25 million. If that projection holds, the sequel would more than double the USD 11.4 million opening weekend recorded by Godzilla Minus One in 2023.
The sequel is being billed as the first Japanese production filmed for IMAX, which gives premium-format ticket pricing a larger role in its opening weekend maths. The projection is early, but the direction is clear: a sequel doubling its predecessor is a different event for exhibitors and media buyers.
What planners should watch next
For distribution and media teams, the Ramayana data is a reminder to separate bulk sales from individual ticket velocity. A city share driven by a group booking can overstate local demand and lead to misallocated marketing spend. The more reliable read will come once IMAX shows open and AMC and California listings appear.
A useful way to read this early data: reported city share equals individual demand plus block bookings plus listed showtimes. Right now the third term is missing, so the share is not a clean demand read.
For Godzilla Minus Zero, the key variable is premium-format share. The $25 million number is not just a fan-event total; it depends on how many IMAX and large-format seats convert at higher prices. Watch the per-theatre average and the IMAX share, not just the weekend headline.
Source: The Times of India
