Indian Films With Unusual Screening Times: ‘Ramayana’, ‘Dunki’, ‘Kabali’ & More

Written By: Entertainment Desk

Nov 13, 2026 12:57 IST ⓘ

Indian films that took cinema schedules to extraordinary hours.

For most people, a cinema outing means choosing between an afternoon show and an evening plan. For some Indian movie fans, it means deciding whether to sleep at all. When a much-awaited release arrives, the first-day-first-show can begin long before the first cup of morning tea. Sometimes, fans organise a special screening; elsewhere, exhibitors add overnight slots because regular shows cannot accommodate the demand. The result is a timetable that looks more like an airport departure board than a cinema schedule, with tickets available for hours usually reserved for night shifts and early flights.

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‘Ramayana’ is the latest example, with a reported 4:50 am booking slot during its Diwali run. From carefully chosen fan-show timings to entire overnight programmes, these films took moviegoing well beyond normal waking hours.

1. ‘Ramayana’ - 4:50 AM In Bhayander

A mythological epic before breakfast? Maxus Bhayander, in the Mumbai metropolitan region, scheduled a 4:50 am 3D show for November 10, 2026, alongside 12:50 am and 2:05 am screenings. Bollywood Hungama reported the listings on November 9 as cinemas in Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad expanded their overnight programmes to accommodate festive demand.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and released on November 5, 2026, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash. The remarkable detail is that this slot was added for the holiday run, several days after opening – not merely for a release-day fan event.

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2. ‘Dunki’ - A Very Deliberate 5:55 AM

Mumbai’s Gaiety Cinema did not settle on 5:55 am on December 21, 2023, by accident. A fan interviewed by NDTV explained the connection to 555, associated with Shah Rukh Khan and his car number. The screening happened, accompanied by the kind of celebrations most neighbourhoods would not expect before sunrise.

Rajkumar Hirani’s film stars SRK, Taapsee Pannu and Boman Irani, with Vicky Kaushal in a special appearance, and released that day. Fans had already pushed Gaiety’s timetable earlier for ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’; ‘Dunki’ gave their latest appointment with SRK a personal numerical flourish.

3. ‘Dhurandhar’ - 4:05 AM, 4:50 AM And Plenty More

For December 6, 2025, Maxus Bhayander programmed eight screenings across its screens between 12:45 am and 6:15 am. The list included 4:05 am and 4:50 am, making the usual debate over an afternoon versus evening ticket seem rather tame. Other Mumbai-region properties also added overnight or early-morning slots.

Released on December 5, 2025, Aditya Dhar’s espionage drama stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan and Arjun Rampal. Its opening-weekend schedule offered audiences several opportunities to enter the world of spies while much of the city was asleep.

4. ‘Gadar 2’ - Surat’s 1:15 AM Appointment With Tara Singh

At The Friday Cinema in Surat, ‘Gadar 2’ gained a 1:15 am show during its opening weekend. Exhibitor Kiritbhai T Vaghasia told Bollywood Hungama that full regular shows prompted the decision. Elsewhere in Surat, INOX Raj Imperial scheduled 13 screenings between midnight and 8 a.m. across its six screens.

Anil Sharma’s film, starring Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma, released on August 11, 2023. By the August 13 weekend programme, the enthusiasm had spilled into slots that smaller centres did not routinely offer. Tara Singh’s return was making demands on both cinema capacity and sleep schedules.

5. ‘Kabali’ - Bengaluru Was Ready At 3 AM

Rajinikanth fans in Bengaluru did not need daylight to welcome ‘Kabali’. Select multiplexes held 3 a.m. screenings on July 22, 2016. Bangalore Mirror reported that tickets for those shows were booked in just 30 minutes, after exhibitors realised that even extensive regular-morning schedules would not satisfy demand.

Directed by Pa Ranjith, the gangster drama stars Rajinikanth, Radhika Apte and Dhansika, and released on July 22, 2016. The report even spoke to a viewer who attended the 3 am show. For him, an unusually early ticket meant joining the first wave of audiences rather than waiting for friends’ reactions.

6. ‘RRR’ - A Reported 1:45 AM Start

One of the list’s most startling timings belongs to ‘RRR’. Asianet Newsable’s release-day coverage reported fans queuing from 1 am for a 1:45 am screening in Karnataka’s Vijayanagar district on March 25, 2022. That is firmly in the territory of extending the previous night rather than starting the next morning.

Directed by SS Rajamouli, the film stars Ram Charan and Jr NTR, with Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn in key roles, and released on March 25, 2022. Its larger-than-life action had barely reached Indian screens before some audiences were already watching it in the small hours.

7. ‘Viswasam’ - Ajith Fans Began At 1 AM

The Pongal 2019 clash began exceptionally early. Select Chennai cinemas screened ‘Viswasam’ at 1 a.m. on January 10, 2019, with contemporary reporting describing crowds cheering as theatres opened. This was a release-day gathering, complete with the anticipation of seeing a favourite star before most people had woken up.

Directed by Siva, the film stars Ajith Kumar and Nayanthara, alongside Jagapathi Babu, and released that day. With Rajinikanth’s ‘Petta’ opening on the same date, the competition between the two releases extended into the hours before dawn.

8. ‘Petta’ - Rajinikanth Followed At 4 AM

The other half of that Pongal showdown had its own early appointment. ‘Petta’ began screening in Chennai at 4 am on January 10, 2019. Rohini Silver Screens’ advance plans had also placed the film at that hour, while release-day reports documented the celebrations welcoming Rajinikanth back to theatres.

Directed by Karthik Subbaraj, ‘Petta’ stars Rajinikanth, Vijay Sethupathi, Simran and Trisha, with Nawazuddin Siddiqui among the ensemble. Released on January 10, 2019, it ensured that the city’s big-screen rivalry was well under way before an ordinary working day had even started.

9. ‘Sooryavanshi’ - A 4:30 AM Cop-Universe Call

Maxus Borivali’s opening-weekend programme included 12:30 am, 1:15 am, 2 am and 4:30 am shows, followed by more morning screenings. Bollywood Hungama’s November 6, 2021 report said those overnight and early shows were sold out or nearly full. The post-midnight experiment had found an audience.

Rohit Shetty’s film stars Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, with Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh in special appearances, and released on November 5, 2021. Following its pandemic-related postponement, some viewers finally caught the action at an hour when their usual alarm clocks would still have been silent.

10. ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ - Basketball At 3 AM

Overnight slots were not reserved for action spectacles. After ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ gathered momentum during its first weekend, Maxus Kandivali and Maxus Borivali in Mumbai added 3 am screenings. Other properties offered shows around 1 am, according to contemporary trade reporting.

Directed by R S Prasanna, the sports comedy-drama stars Aamir Khan and Genelia Deshmukh, alongside its ensemble of basketball players, and released on June 20, 2025. The unusual programme gave a character-led film a place on a list otherwise crowded with gangsters, spies and screen-filling battles.

11. ‘Animal’ - Pick Between 1 AM, 2 AM And 5:30 AM

Following Animal’s release, Maxus Bhayander opened bookings for 1 am, 2 am, 5:30 am and 6:15 am shows. Bollywood Hungama’s December 1, 2023 report also documented overnight scheduling in cities including Surat and Ahmedabad. A late-night plan could suddenly become a very early-morning one.

Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol, and released on December 1, 2023. Its lengthy runtime made those starting times especially consequential: this was a substantial commitment to a night at the movies.

12. ‘Drishyam: The Conclusion’ - Suspense At 4:05 AM

Maxus Bhayander’s advertised schedule included 12:35 am, 1:05 am, 2:05 am, 3:05 am, 4:05 am and 5:05 am. Crucially, reports said exhibitors began opening post-midnight bookings on October 1, 2026, before release, rather than waiting for opening-day word of mouth.

Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the thriller stars Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran and Tabu, and released on October 2, 2026. Audiences keen to catch the next chapter of Vijay Salgaonkar’s story were offered a timetable with almost hourly overnight starting points.

13. ‘Jawan’ - Gaiety’s Landmark 6 AM Show

Before ‘Dunki’ arrived at 5:55 am, ‘Jawan’ had already moved Gaiety’s clock forward. SRK Universe organised a 6 am screening at the Mumbai cinema on September 7, 2023, and release-day coverage recorded crowds turning up for it. For Gaiety’s regular patrons, SRK’s new release had turned the early morning into prime time.

Directed by Atlee, ‘Jawan’ stars Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, with Deepika Padukone in a special appearance, and released that day. Fans effectively turned a first show into an early-morning celebration.

14. ‘Chhaava’ - History Lessons Could Wait Until 1:30 AM

‘Chhaava’ extended Mumbai’s moviegoing day well past midnight. A February 15, 2025 trade report recorded screenings scheduled at 12:45 am, 1 am, 1:15 am and 1:30 am across select cinemas as exhibitors responded to demand during the opening weekend.

Directed by Laxman Utekar, the historical drama stars Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna, and released on February 14, 2025. Vicky’s portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was drawing audiences beyond the usual evening slots, giving the period spectacle an unexpectedly nocturnal exhibition schedule.

15. ‘Vikram’ - A 4 AM Date With Kamal Haasan’s Comeback

For ‘Vikram’, the early programme included a 4 am first-day-first-show at Chennai’s Rohini theatre on June 3, 2022. Pre-release reports even suggested Kamal Haasan would attend. For fans already setting an alarm for the film, the possibility of sharing that first screening with its leading man added another reason to get there early.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the action thriller stars Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil, and released on June 3, 2022. Release-day coverage also recorded reactions from viewers of the 4 am shows.

16. ‘Thunivu’ - A 1 AM Opening In Tamil Nadu

Ajith Kumar’s ‘Thunivu’ began its Tamil Nadu screenings as early as 1 am on January 11, 2023. The opening formed one half of another much-discussed Pongal clash, with Vijay’s ‘Varisu’ following in the early morning. The competition was playing out long before conventional cinema hours.

Directed by H Vinoth, the film stars Ajith and Manju Warrier, and released on January 11, 2023. The opening-day celebrations were also marred by the death of an Ajith fan, a sobering part of that release’s history.

17. ‘Varisu’ - Vijay’s Turn Came At 4 AM

‘Varisu’ opened at around 4 am in Tamil Nadu on January 11, 2023, according to release-day reporting. For a family drama, that was an exceptionally early family appointment. Sharing its release date with ‘Thunivu’ made the allocation of screens and special shows a major talking point.

Directed by Vamshi Paidipally, the film stars Vijay and Rashmika Mandanna, with R Sarathkumar, Jayasudha and Prakash Raj among its ensemble. It released on January 11, 2023, giving Vijay’s fans their own pre-sunrise gathering during the festive showdown.

18. ‘Leo’ - 4 AM Across The Border, 9 AM At Home

Leo’s timing story needs its geography intact. On October 19, 2023, screenings began at 4 am in Kerala and Karnataka, while Tamil Nadu’s first shows started at 9 am. The difference was five hours, making the state in which someone booked a ticket unusually significant.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film stars Vijay, Trisha, Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Sarja, and released that day. The early-show debate even reached the courts before release. For fans determined to be among the first, the booking decision involved where to watch as well as when to arrive.

19. ‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire’ - Official Permission For 1 AM And 4 AM

The Telangana government approved 1 am benefit screenings at selected Hyderabad theatres on December 22, 2023, along with 4 am shows under its opening-day arrangements. Here, the extraordinary timetable was documented in a permission order, rather than merely announced by a fan group.

Directed by Prashanth Neel, ‘Salaar’ stars Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Shruti Haasan, and released on December 22, 2023. Those approvals created opportunities for fans to enter Khansaar hours before a regular morning trip to the cinema.

20. ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ - Hyderabad Booked For 4:30 AM

Advance-booking coverage for ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ highlighted 4:30 am shows in Hyderabad for June 27, 2024. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh reported that those early slots were packed to capacity within minutes of bookings opening. The ticket rush was happening before audiences had even seen the finished film.

Directed by Nag Ashwin, the science-fiction epic stars Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan, and released on June 27, 2024. For some Hyderabad viewers, the journey into its futuristic world was scheduled before the city’s normal morning routine.

21. ‘Devara: Part 1’ - 1 AM Permissions, Then 4 AM Shows

‘Devara’ secured Telangana permission for 1 am shows in 29 theatres on September 27, 2024, with six-show opening-day arrangements beginning at 4 am. Release-day coverage reported that the 1 am and 4 am shows had finished.

Directed by Koratala Siva, the action drama stars Jr NTR, Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor, and released on September 27, 2024. By the time many viewers were planning their ordinary morning outing, the earliest audiences already had opinions to share about Jr NTR’s return in a solo-led film.

22. ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ - 1 AM And 4 AM Added To The Programme

For ‘Pushpa 2’, Telangana approved two additional screenings at 1 am and 4 am on December 5, 2024, alongside the regular shows. These release-day permissions were separate from the benefit screening approved for the preceding evening, a distinction easily lost when every unusual slot gets called a “midnight show”.

Directed by Sukumar, the film stars Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, and released on December 5, 2024. Its approved timetable illustrates just how far exhibitors and distributors were prepared to stretch the day to accommodate the sequel’s expected audience.