The Christmas corridor in 2026 is likely to be one of the most competitive release windows of the year.
Sarika Sharma
August 04, 2026 / 10:36 IST
Avengers: Doomsday, King and Dune 3
- King starring SRK & Suhana Khan releases Dec 24, 2026.
- Siddharth Anand directs the action thriller.
- Film faces stiff Hollywood competition.
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Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited action thriller, King is staying on course for its December 24, 2026 theatrical release, setting up one of the biggest year-end box office battles in recent memory.
The Siddharth Anand directorial will arrive just days after two of Hollywood’s biggest releases, Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, hit theatres worldwide.
The Christmas corridor in 2026 is likely to be one of the most competitive release windows of the year.
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three are both scheduled to release on December 18, giving them a week’s head start before SRK and Suhana Khan starrer King releases in theatres.
Adding to the crowded slate is Jumanji: Open World, which is also expected to release during the holiday season.
Despite speculation in recent weeks that King could be pushed to 2027, the film remains firmly locked for its Christmas release.
Trade observers believe the makers are banking on Shah Rukh Khan’s strong domestic pull and the festive holiday period to maximise footfalls.
Directed by Siddharth Anand, King marks Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen after a three-year long gap following his blockbuster 2023 run with Pathaan, Jawan.
The film also marks SRK’s first big collaboration with his daughter Suhana Khan, who made her acting debut with The Archies. King will be Suhana’s theatrical debut.
The film boasts a star-studded ensemble, including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Jaideep Ahlawat, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi and Saurabh Shukla. Munjya actor Abhay Verma is also a part of the ensemble cast.
Abhishek Bachchan is expected to play the primary antagonist, while Shah Rukh leads the action-packed entertainer.
While the international box office could see stiff competition from Hollywood biggies, industry watchers believe King has the advantage of Shah Rukh Khan’s massive fan base in India and key overseas markets.
Sarika Sharma is Editor, Entertainment, MoneyControl.com. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of entertainment journalism.
first published: Aug 4, 2026 10:34 am
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