Avengers: Doomsday will hit Indian screens a day before the US, and RDJ and Chris Evans said 'Namaste India' to mark it
Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday opens in India on December 17, 2026, a day ahead of its US release, in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans sent Indian fans a festive video message.
Indian Marvel fans just got bragging rights. Avengers: Doomsday will open in Indian cinemas on December 17, 2026, a full day before it reaches screens in the US on December 18. Marvel India made the news official with a video in which Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans greet fans with a cheerful "Namaste India!", wish everyone a Happy Diwali and promise to see them at the movies. The video landed with 50 days to go to release.
The Diwali video, decoded
The clip is short and charming. Downey Jr., who returns to the franchise as the villain Doctor Doom, and Evans, who is back as Steve Rogers, tie the festival's idea of one chapter closing and another beginning to the film. Then comes the mischievous twist: this time, they hint, the journey may run from light into darkness. When the duo say they will see Indian fans in Avengers: Doomsday, the answer is a confident "You bet!" It is a small gesture, but an early India date plus a festive message from two of the biggest names in Hollywood tells you how much the Indian box office now matters to Marvel.
Languages, formats and what to book
The film releases in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, so fans across the country can pick the version they love most. It will also play in Marvel Studios' Infinity Vision and other premium formats. Infinity Vision is a Marvel and Disney badge for premium large-format screens that meet strict technical standards, rather than a brand-new kind of projector. The push for it makes sense: Dune: Part Three also opens worldwide on December 18, and the two giants will fight for the biggest screens. Opening on a Thursday in India also gives Doomsday a four-day first weekend before the Christmas holiday rush.
Who is in it
Avengers: Doomsday is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito and Jonathan Schwartz. The story sets heroes from three different universes on a collision course as they face a threat to their very existence. The cast is enormous even by Marvel standards:
- The headliners: Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and Chris Evans as Steve Rogers
- Marvel favourites: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Florence Pugh, Letitia Wright, Simu Liu and David Harbour
- Fresh heavyweights: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach
- Screen legends: Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer
- Also starring: Channing Tatum, Hayley Atwell, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman, Kathryn Newton, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Alex Livinalli, Mabel Cadena and Tenoch Huerta Mejia
Why this matters for India
An India-first release is a big deal. It means no spoilers floating in from overseas time zones, first-day shows that belong to Indian fans, and a clear signal that Hollywood studios now plan around Indian audiences rather than treating India as an afterthought. With four languages and premium screens in the mix, expect advance bookings for opening-day shows to be among the hottest tickets of December.
The FHM take
FHM's opinion: getting Tony Stark's face back in an Avengers film, this time under Doctor Doom's mask, was always going to be an event. Getting it a day before America, with a "Namaste India" thrown in, makes it personal. Block December 17, book the biggest screen in your city early, and keep your phone on silent: this one deserves your full attention.
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