India's most expensive film ever made, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, opened to a modest domestic box office performance this weekend. The two-part fantasy epic cost $200 million to produce, according to figures in the report, and claimed the fifth position on the domestic box office chart with $12 million earned in North America. Worldwide, the film grossed $55 million, with most revenue coming from India.
Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is based on a sacred Hindu mythological text. The first part follows Lord Rama after his banishment from Ayodhya, joined by his brother Lakshman and wife Sita, as the demon king Ravana captures Lanka and kidnaps Sita. The film ends with setup for an epic battle between good and evil in the planned sequel, slated for 2028 release.
The film landed in nearly 1,500 North American theaters. On Rotten Tomatoes, Ramayana holds a 76% critics score based on 50 reviews and a 93% audience score. Godzilla Minus Zero topped the domestic box office this weekend with a record-breaking haul and a 90% critics score, compared to the original Godzilla Minus One's 99%.
Tiwari previously directed Dangal, the highest-grossing Indian film of all time at the global box office. Whether Ramayana's worldwide gross justifies its budget and the planned equally expensive sequel remains to be seen.