Mohanlal. Georgekutty. Drishyam. Three words that mean everything to Malayalam cinema fans — and on May 22, 2026, those words translated into one of the biggest opening days in Kerala box office history.
Drishyam 3 — Key Box Office Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Film | Drishyam 3 |
| Director | Jeethu Joseph |
| Lead | Mohanlal as Georgekutty |
| Production | Aashirvad Cinemas |
| Kerala Day 1 Collection | Rs. 10.85 crore gross |
| Kerala Opening Day Rank | 2nd Biggest for a Malayalam Film Ever |
| Record Holder (No. 1) | L2 Empuraan (Rs. 14 crore, 2025) |
| Kerala Opening Weekend Projection | Rs. 40–50 crore |
The Numbers That Say It All
Drishyam 3 smashed a banger opening day of Rs. 10.85 crore gross — just shy of the Rs. 11 crore mark — at the Kerala box office. That is the second-biggest start for a Malayalam movie in its home state, with the top spot belonging to Mohanlal’s own L2 Empuraan, which grossed Rs. 14 crore on its Day 1 in 2025.
For perspective, cracking the double-digit mark at the Kerala box office alone is a feat very few films achieve. Drishyam 3 did it on opening day — a testament to the franchise’s extraordinary hold over audiences.
Opening Weekend Could Be Historic
The momentum isn’t slowing down. Drishyam 3 is witnessing huge pre-sales for its second day as well. Despite mixed word-of-mouth, the cult franchise will keep rolling at the box office throughout the opening weekend. Based on current trends and advances for Friday and Saturday, the movie has a huge potential of smashing Rs. 40 crore to Rs. 50 crore in its opening weekend at the Kerala box office alone.
If those projections hold, Drishyam 3 is on course to set an entirely new benchmark for Malayalam cinema opening weekends in Kerala.
Dominating Beyond Kerala Too
The Jeethu Joseph-directed movie is also going bonkers at the Telugu box office, where it registered a record Day 1 for a Malayalam-Telugu dubbed film, surpassing the previous best held by Lokah Chapter One: Chandra and Marco. YouTube
That kind of cross-regional dominance is rare and speaks volumes about how deeply the Drishyam franchise resonates beyond its home market. You can explore the full history and cultural impact of Malayalam cinema on Wikipedia’s Malayalam cinema page to appreciate just how significant this franchise’s legacy truly is.
Can Drishyam 3 Challenge the All-Time Greats?
Drishyam 3 is one of the biggest bets of Malayalam cinema this year. It is the most loved franchise of the Kerala film industry and holds a separate fanbase among audiences. The movie has huge potential to challenge the top grossers — Vaazha 2, Lokah Chapter One: Chandra, Thudarum, and others. YouTube
A franchise this beloved rarely lets its fanbase down at the box office, and the opening day numbers suggest Drishyam 3 is more than capable of joining — or topping — that elite list.
For all the latest Malayalam and South Indian cinema box office updates, head to Technosports for daily coverage and analysis.
