The wait is officially over for thriller enthusiasts as Mohanlal’s highly anticipated Drishyam 3 has made its grand theatrical debut. Despite garnering polarizing reactions from early audiences and critics, the star-powered sequel has proved to be a goldmine at the ticket window, setting the global box office on fire on its opening day.
According to tracking data from industry tracker Sacnilk, the film managed to amass an impressive ₹15.85 crore net in India across 5,506 shows, solidifying its place as one of the biggest cinematic openings of 2026.
Worldwide Gross Crosses the ₹43 Crore Milestone
While the domestic numbers set a stellar foundation, Drishyam 3 truly flexed its muscles in international territories. The film raked in an exceptional ₹25 crore gross overseas on Day 1 alone, driven significantly by the Gulf region, North America, the UK, and Australia.
When paired with India’s gross collections of ₹18.37 crore, the cumulative worldwide opening day gross stands at a massive ₹43.37 crore.
Drishyam 3: Day 1 Box Office Breakdown (Approximate)
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• India Net Collection: ₹15.85 Crore
• India Gross Collection: ₹18.37 Crore
• Overseas Gross: ₹25.00 Crore
• Total Worldwide Gross: ₹43.37 Crore
Language Wise Breakdown: Malayalam Market Leads the Charge
Unsurprisingly, the film’s home ground provided the lion’s share of the domestic revenue. Released on May 21 to coincide with Mohanlal’s birthday, the regional frenzy translated directly into packed cinema halls.
- Malayalam Version: Contributed the highest numbers, securing ₹13.70 crore net on Day 1 across 3,503 shows, enjoying a staggering 67% theater occupancy. The Indian Express
- Telugu Version: Registered decent traction in select pockets, adding ₹1.50 crore net to the tally. The Economic Times
- Regional Peak: Kerala emerged as the absolute stronghold for the movie, single-handedly turning in ₹11.15 crore gross of the total domestic earnings. The Economic Times
The Malayalam 2D version recorded uniform resilience throughout the day, with evening and night shows operating at near-full capacities in major multiplexes and single screens alike.
Critical Response: Was a Third Chapter Necessary?
While the commercial momentum remains bulletproof, the narrative choices of director Jeethu Joseph have left critics divided. The film continues the psychological game of cat-and-mouse for Georgekutty and his family, as past sins re-emerge to threaten their hard-earned peace.
“The film struggles with pacing. The narrative takes too long to establish its emotional conflict… The final portions still manage to deliver the tension and emotional payoff expected from the Drishyam brand. Yet the larger question remains unavoidable—was a third part truly necessary?”
Many reviews note that because the audience is already intimately familiar with the core crime and the emotional stakes, the screenplay occasionally stretches itself thin trying to build a third layer over a story that already felt complete. However, the electric final act and Mohanlal’s trademark masterful performance have kept general filmgoers highly entertained.