Mohanlal's 'Drishyam 3' takes box office by storm with Rs 43.37 crore opening

The wait is over for Drishyam 3, the third and reportedly final film in Jeethu Joseph’s hit family thriller franchise. Released on Thursday in celebration of superstar Mohanlal’s 66th birthday, the movie has drawn a mixed response from audiences so far.

This final chapter chronicles the return of Georgekutty, widely regarded as one of the most iconic protagonists in modern Malayalam cinema.

Over a gripping trilogy, this franchise has followed a family’s relentless battle to outrun the law after a fatal incident. Its ultimate selling point? The legendary film witnessed jaw-dropping climax twists that have kept audiences glued to their seats from the very beginning.

Backed by Panorama Studios and Pen Studios, Drishyam 3 enjoyed a grand release worldwide. This high-profile collaboration allowed the movie to secure one of the widest theatrical rollouts ever recorded for a Malayalam film.

Upon its release, Drishyam 3 emerged as the second-highest opening day collection for a Malayalam film. The movie just sits behind the record-holder, Mohanlal's L2: Empuraan, which continues to hold the top spot in the Malayalam cinema industry.

Initial mixed reviews from Thursday morning shows failed to slow down Drishyam 3 at the box office, as it delivered a powerful opening-day performance.

According to Sacnilk, the film collected Rs 43.37 crore on its release date. The film registered a domestic net collection of Rs 15.85 crore, a gross of Rs 18.37 crore and an explosive international collection of Rs 25 crore.

Meanwhile, L2: Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, maintains a massive lead at the top, having shattered expectations with a towering Rs 67 crore worldwide opening day.

Following the award-winning 2013 blockbuster and its acclaimed 2021 sequel, the third part, Drishyam 3, arrives to massive anticipation. The final chapter brings back writer-director Jeethu Joseph, producer Antony Perumbavoor (Aashirvad Cinemas) and Mohanlal’s iconic Georgekutty, alongside the franchise's stellar core cast, including Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil and Asha Sarath.