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Drishyam 3 Crosses ₹100 Crore Worldwide in Just 3 Days — Mohanlal Thriller Earns ₹117 Crore

Mohanlal’s highly anticipated thriller Drishyam 3 has smashed through the ₹100 crore barrier worldwide in a mere three days of theatrical release, collecting

Aditi Singh 39 minutes ago · 3 min read

Drishyam 3 Crosses ₹100 Crore Worldwide in Just 3 Days — Mohanlal Thriller Earns ₹117 Crore

Mohanlal’s highly anticipated thriller Drishyam 3 has smashed through the ₹100 crore barrier worldwide in a mere three days of theatrical release, collecting an impressive ₹117.17 crore gross by the end of Day 3 (Saturday, May 24). The film, directed by Jeethu Joseph, has not only lived up to the enormous expectations set by its predecessors but has also rewritten several box office records for Malayalam cinema.

Day-by-Day Box Office Breakdown

Day	India Net (₹ Cr)	Overseas Gross (₹ Cr)	Worldwide Gross (₹ Cr)
Day 1 (Wed, May 21)	15.85	27.00	43.00*
Day 2 (Thu, May 22)	11.05	18.00	29.12*
Day 3 (Fri, May 23)	20.05	25.00	45.05*
Total	~47.12	~70.00	117.17

*Approximate breakdowns based on Sacnilk and trade estimates

The film’s Day 3 jump was particularly remarkable. After a natural dip on Thursday (Day 2), the Friday-Saturday surge — driven by strong word of mouth and weekend audiences — pushed the film to its highest single-day collection. The overseas market has been a powerhouse, contributing ₹70 crore (nearly 60% of the total) from territories including the Gulf countries, the US, UK, Australia, and Malaysia.

What Makes Drishyam 3 Special

The Drishyam franchise is arguably the most successful Indian thriller series ever made. The original Drishyam (2013) — the story of Georgekutty, a cable TV operator who outwits the police to protect his family after an accidental killing — became a cultural phenomenon. Its Hindi remake starring Ajay Devgn was equally successful, while Drishyam 2 (2021) proved that sequels can match originals in both quality and commercial performance.

Drishyam 3 picks up the story several years later. Without revealing spoilers, the film explores the psychological toll of Georgekutty’s secret on his family, while introducing a new antagonist — a retired CBI officer played by Fahadh Faasil in a riveting guest appearance — who begins to unravel the carefully constructed facade.

Critics have praised the film for its taut screenplay, Mohanlal’s layered performance, and Jeethu Joseph’s masterful direction. “Drishyam 3 proves that Malayalam cinema doesn’t need spectacle to create box office magic. It just needs a great story told brilliantly,” wrote film critic Baradwaj Rangan in his review.

Breaking Malayalam Cinema Records

Drishyam 3’s ₹117 crore in three days has set several records:

Fastest Malayalam film to ₹100 crore worldwide — surpassing Lucifer (2019), which took 10 days
Highest Day 1 collection for a Malayalam film — ₹43 crore worldwide on opening day
Highest overseas opening for any Malayalam film — ₹27 crore from international markets on Day 1
Third fastest Indian film to ₹100 crore in 2026 — behind only Pushpa 2 (Hindi dubbed) and Karuppu

Industry tracker Sacnilk estimates that the film could touch ₹200 crore worldwide by the end of its first week if the current trajectory holds. The Hindi dubbed version, scheduled for release on May 30, could add another ₹50–80 crore to the lifetime total.

Mohanlal’s Renaissance

At 66, Mohanlal shows no signs of slowing down. The film’s release was strategically timed to coincide with his birthday on May 21, turning the premiere into a nationwide celebration for his fans. Box office numbers aside, Drishyam 3 represents a creative renaissance for the actor after a string of underperforming films in 2024–2025.

“This is Mohanlal at his absolute best — restrained, intelligent, and devastating in his subtlety,” said director Priyadarshan, Mohanlal’s longtime collaborator. “Jeethu and Lalettan have created something extraordinary with this franchise.”

The Pan-India Potential

With the Hindi version already generating enormous pre-release buzz — the trailer garnered 50 million views in its first week — Drishyam 3 has the potential to become one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2026. It competes in a packed marketplace that includes Karuppu (Suriya), the upcoming War 2 (Hrithik Roshan), and the Diwali release of Ramayana Part 1 (Ranbir Kapoor).

For now, Georgekutty’s latest chapter has proved that great storytelling transcends language barriers — and that Mohanlal, the “Complete Actor,” still reigns supreme.

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Aditi Singh

Aditi Singh is an Editor at Daily Tips covering lifestyle, education, and social trends. With a keen eye for stories that resonate with young India, Aditi brings thoughtful analysis and clear writing to topics ranging from career guidance and exam preparation to social media culture and everyday life hacks. Her reporting is grounded in thorough research and a genuine curiosity about the forces shaping modern Indian society.