Mammootty & Mohanlal’s Patriot Flopped Hard — Rs 24 Crore in Week 1 Is a Wake-Up Call for Malayalam Cinema

Malayalam cinema’s most anticipated reunion just became its biggest disappointment of 2026. Patriot had every ingredient to be a blockbuster — two legends, a spy thriller backdrop, and massive hype. So what went wrong?

What Happened at the Box Office?

Patriot added Rs 90 lakh on its Day 7, registering a drop of 25 per cent from the previous day, closing its opening week at Rs 24 crore gross at the Kerala box office.

For a film that reunites Mollywood’s two biggest superstars after nearly 18 years, that number stings.

Patriot Week 1 Day-Wise Box Office Collections

The cliff after Day 3 tells the whole story — audiences came on the opening weekend and largely stayed away after that.

Why Did Patriot Fail?

One of the major reasons why the movie is struggling at the box office is its mixed word-of-mouth. Had the movie garnered a positive reception, it would have recorded a better box office run.

Box office performance in Malayalam cinema is heavily driven by family audiences and repeat viewings — and mixed reviews killed both. The weekday numbers, dropping under Rs 1 crore by Day 6, are evidence of zero legs.

Patriot was a potential Rs 100 crore grosser; however, it is now heading to wind up its entire run under the Rs 50 crore mark. That’s a brutal gap between expectation and reality.

For more Malayalam box office analysis and South cinema updates, check out our dedicated coverage on TechnoSports.

What’s Next?

All eyes are now on its second weekend jump. It should aim to see a solid spike in order to reach a respectable total.

The next big Malayalam release to watch is Drishyam 3 — and if Patriot’s stumble is anything to go by, the franchise better deliver on its cult promise.

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