Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated Ramayana: Rise of a Legend made its global premiere in Los Angeles on October 27, bringing together lead actors Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, along with director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra.

The invite-only 3D screening took place at the David Geffen Theatre inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, ahead of the film’s worldwide theatrical release on November 5.

The event also drew international entertainment personalities, placing the Indian mythological epic in the spotlight ahead of its theatrical debut. 

The Los Angeles event has generated considerable online discussion, with videos and photographs from the premiere circulating on social media.

Kapoor, who plays Lord Rama, Pallavi, who essays Sita, and Yash, who portrays Ravana, were among the film’s leading faces at the event.

As reports of the screening began surfacing online, early reactions to the film emerged on X, with several users praising its visual scale and a dramatic cliffhanger, while others raised questions about its storytelling, music and execution. 

Ramayana first X preview: What are early reactions saying?

Early reactions on X have been sharply divided, with some posts describing the film as a major cinematic spectacle and others suggesting its ambitious scale may not always translate into a compelling viewing experience.

A post by SpoilerFlim claimed that the first reaction to Ramayana was 'insane’, describing the film as grand and epic, praising the portrayal of Rama and calling the cliffhanger unbelievable.

The account suggested that, if the early reactions were accurate, director Nitesh Tiwari had delivered another major cinematic experience.

However, a post by @ftnewsdaily offered a more critical assessment, describing Ramayana as an epic with mixed execution.

It praised the grand visuals, massive scale and Yash’s portrayal of Ravana, but criticised what it described as weak music, a lack of divine aura, a slow second half, flat storytelling, cartoonish asuras, underwhelming action and insufficient emotional depth. The post concluded that the film looked huge but did not always feel epic.

In contrast, another user posted on X that early reviews from the Los Angeles world premiere described Ramayana as one of the greatest cinematic experiences of 2026.

The post added to the growing online excitement, though the assessment remains an individual social media claim rather than a verified critical consensus.

Another post suggested the film could mark an unprecedented moment for Indian cinema if reports from the alleged Los Angeles screening proved accurate.

The netizen claimed the sequence depicting Rama’s exile left audiences in tears and also mentioned the Jatayu versus Ravana sequence. The post framed the reported response as a sign that the film could make a significant impression on international audiences.

Meanwhile, another cinephile posted that the screening hall was filled and expressed excitement ahead of the premiere.

In a separate post, the account shared what it described as the first review of Ramayana, quoting a reaction that praised the grand visuals and called the final cliffhanger an unforgettable moment. The reaction described the experience as something the viewer had never seen before.

An exclusive-labeled post with the hashtag #RamayanaReview also claimed that early reviews from the Los Angeles premiere were promising, adding to the film's social media buzz.

While these posts indicate growing anticipation around Ramayana, the reactions remain preliminary and vary considerably.

The contrasting assessments suggest that the film’s visual ambition and scale are attracting attention, even as questions about its narrative execution and emotional depth surface online.

The broader critical and audience response will become clearer as more viewers watch the film.