Mohanlal has returned as Georgekutty, and the box office has responded with the urgency usually reserved for event cinema. Drishyam 3, one of Malayalam cinema’s most closely tracked franchise films, opened in theatres today, May 21, 2026, with a commanding advance booking footprint across domestic and overseas markets.
The crime thriller entered release day with global pre-sales of around Rs 33 crore for Day 1, placing it among the strongest advance booking performers in Malayalam cinema history. The momentum has put the film in position to chase the second biggest opening ever for a Malayalam film, with L2 Empuraan still holding the top spot in advance booking trends.
Drishyam 3 Closes With A Record-Level Worldwide Push
The final advance tally is a major number for the Malayalam industry and a clear reminder of the franchise’s pan-market pull. In Kerala alone, the Mohanlal starrer collected more than Rs 8.20 crore through advance sales, making it one of the biggest pre-release performers the state has seen.
The film’s Kerala advance has also positioned it for a double-digit gross opening in its home market. With strong overseas traction and substantial interest from dubbed markets, Drishyam 3 is now eyeing a worldwide opening in the Rs 50 crore gross range, provided the audience reception sustains through the day.
What makes the trend particularly significant is the film’s genre. Unlike a large-scale action spectacle, Drishyam 3 is a family crime thriller built on suspense, character loyalty, and franchise recall. That makes its advance booking performance a major win for content-led cinema and for Mohanlal’s enduring command over the box office.
Georgekutty’S Story Returns With A Wider Reach
Drishyam 3 is written and directed by Jeethu Joseph, who returns to extend Georgekutty’s story. The film stars Mohanlal as Georgekutty, with Meena, Siddique, Asha Sharath, Murali Gopy, Ansiba Hassan, and Esther Anil reprising their roles. Veena Nandakumar joins the cast in a new part as a journalist looking into the case.
Produced by Antony Perumbavoor under Aashirvad Cinemas, Drishyam 3 continues the franchise that began with the 2013 blockbuster Drishyam and followed with Drishyam 2, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2021. The third instalment follows Georgekutty and his family as the mystery surrounding the past resurfaces, forcing familiar characters back into a tense moral and legal maze.
The film released in Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada, giving it a wider reach beyond Kerala from Day 1. Anil Johnson has composed the music and background score, while Satheesh Kurup handled cinematography and V. S. Vinayak edited the film.
For Mohanlal and Jeethu Joseph, the Drishyam brand remains one of the strongest creative collaborations in modern Malayalam cinema. With this kind of advance booking, Drishyam 3 has begun its theatrical run not just as a sequel, but as a genuine box office event.
Stay tuned with us for the latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, the latest Bollywood news, and the latest box office news.
