Mollywood

7 hrs ago

1.9K views

Drishyam 3 Box Office Prediction: Mohanlal-Starrer Set For Second Biggest Opening For A Malayalam Film

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 19 - The excitement surrounding Drishyam 3 continues to rise as the Mohanlal-led thriller gears up for its theatrical release on May 21. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film marks the return of Georgekutty, one of the most celebrated characters in Indian cinema, and the anticipation is clearly reflecting in the advance booking trends across India and overseas markets. According to the latest trade report, the film's opening day pre-sales are now approaching the 20 crore gross mark worldwide, with current sales around 19 crores. Of this, nearly 9 crore gross has reportedly come from India alone, underscoring strong demand in Kerala as well as other key domestic circuits. With around two days still left before release, industry trackers expect the bookings to accelerate further over the final stretch. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The overseas response has been particularly remarkable for the Mohanlal starrer. Gulf countries, North America, the UK, and Australia are witnessing excellent booking trends, continuing the growing global dominance of Malayalam cinema in recent years. Kerala, meanwhile, is expected to contribute heavily through spot bookings other than superb pre-sales so far, with around 5.50 crores gross. The current momentum could push the final opening day advance sales to around 25+ crore gross worldwide before the first show even begins. If the film maintains this pace, Drishyam 3 could comfortably target an opening day collection in excess of 35 crore gross globally. Such a start would place the film among the biggest openers in Malayalam cinema history. At present, the record for the highest opening also belongs to Mohanlal, whose Empuraan opened at around 70 crore gross worldwide. Drishyam 3 is certain to score the second biggest opening, and it needs to be seen how far it can climb. One of the biggest factors working in the film's favour is the immense popularity of the Drishyam franchise itself. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The franchise value is also expected to boost spot bookings significantly on release day, plus, it has more pan-India weight than other Malayalam titles, so it is also going to play a major role in its big opening. Trade experts suggest that if audience reception turns positive from the morning shows, the worldwide opening day total could even push towards the 40 crore gross mark or more. The original film became a landmark success and was remade in several languages across India, while Drishyam 2 expanded the franchise's reach even further with its direct OTT release during the pandemic. The third instalment is being promoted as the continuation of Georgekutty's intense journey, creating enormous curiosity among audiences.

Advance Booking

17 hrs ago

2.4K views

Drishyam 3 Advance Booking: Film Crosses Patriot to Become Second-Highest Malayalam Pre-Seller

BY SACNILK

The third installment of the Drishyam franchise is set to return to the big screen on a date that carries significant importance for fans. With the release scheduled for May 21 to coincide with Mohanlal's 66th birthday, the film's arrival has moved beyond a standard theatrical debut to become a major event across Kerala and the global diaspora. In a significant turn of events this morning, Drishyam 3 has officially overtaken the final pre-sales tally of the Mammootty-Mohanlal spy thriller, Patriot. While Patriot held strong with 333,000 tickets on BookMyShow, Drishyam 3 has now surged past the 334,000 mark, securing its position as the second-highest Malayalam pre-seller in the history of the platform. It now trails only behind the massive 1.33 million record set by L2: Empuraan. What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is the genre; while the top spots are traditionally dominated by high-octane action films, Drishyam 3 has become the first pure suspense-drama in Mollywood history to command this level of pre-release dominance. The momentum is clearly visible in the real-time data, with the film currently selling nearly 30,000 tickets every 24 hours. In Kerala alone, the Day 1 advances have already breached the 5 crore mark, with over 2 lakh tickets sold in the state. Major urban centers like Kochi, Trivandrum, and Calicut are seeing a massive rush, with many 4:00 AM and 7:00 AM fan shows already reported as sold out. Currently, over 1,200 shows are being tracked across the state, and many are moving into the fast-filling category as the release date approaches. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the global stage, the film has officially crossed the 15 crore mark in worldwide opening day advances. The Gulf region remains the strongest overseas fortress for the franchise, contributing over 4 crore from the GCC market alone. This is largely due to the massive diaspora following and special early premieres scheduled to begin on the evening of May 20. The United Kingdom is also showing exceptional numbers, with over 9,500 tickets sold and several premiere shows nearing full capacity. The performance in North America is equally noteworthy, with projections placing the opening in the 2.0 to 2.5 crore range. This makes it the second-fastest Malayalam film to reach the 1,000-ticket milestone in the region. Although the late start of show bookings initially limited its potential in certain US circuits, the current pace suggests a massive weekend ahead as more screens are being added to meet the demand. With two full days still left before the first show begins, Drishyam 3 is expected to widen the gap between itself and other recent blockbusters like The GOAT Life and Aadu 3. While challenging the top spot held by L2: Empuraan remains unlikely, the film has already established itself as the ultimate benchmark for the thriller genre. The birthday factor for Mohanlal, combined with the legacy of the Drishyam brand, has ensured that Georgekutty's final outing is set for a historic opening at the box office.

Advance Booking

1 day ago

598 views

Chand Mera Dil Box Office: CBFC Grants U/A 16+ Certificate After 96 Seconds of Cuts; Advance Booking Starts May 18

BY SACNILK

Romance fans have a significant update to track as the advance booking for the upcoming film Chand Mera Dil is set to open today, Monday, May 18. Directed by Vivek Soni, known for his work on Meenakshi Sundareshwar and Aap Jaisa Koi, this Dharma Productions venture has generated considerable buzz. The pairing of Lakshya and Ananya Panday, combined with an intense romantic narrative, has made it one of the most anticipated releases of the month. Before the film heads to theaters on May 22, it has completed its mandatory certification process. According to an exclusive report by Bollywood Hungama, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) passed the movie with a U/A 16+ certificate. While the intense nature of the romance remains a key selling point, the board did request some specific modifications to the intimate sequences in the film. The CBFC requested the deletion and replacement of approximately 96 seconds of kissing visuals. This includes a 10-second sequence that was replaced with alternative shots and a more substantial 1 minute and 26 seconds of lip-lock visuals that were asked to be removed entirely. Beyond these visual edits, the makers were also required to submit consent letters for all child artists who appeared in the film. These changes were finalized in early May, and the official censor certificate was handed over to the producers on May 8. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Following these modifications, the final runtime of Chand Mera Dil is confirmed to be 135.36 minutes, which translates to a total duration of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 36 seconds. This duration is fairly standard for a contemporary romantic drama and is expected to provide a well-paced theatrical experience. The production is a collaborative effort involving Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra, and Marijke deSouza. To ensure a strong start at the ticket windows, the makers have implemented an aggressive pricing strategy for the opening day. On Friday, May 22, moviegoers can purchase tickets for all shows scheduled before 5:00 pm for just ₹149. For shows scheduled after 5:00 pm, the price will increase slightly to ₹199. This tiered pricing model is a strategic move to capitalize on the film's musical popularity and the chemistry of the lead pair, encouraging a high turnout right from the first day of release.

Tollywood

3 days ago

3.3K views

Peddi Advance Booking (North America): Ram Charan Starrer Hits 10K Tickets For Premiere

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 16 - Superstar Ram Charan’s much-awaited sports action drama Peddi continues to show excellent momentum in overseas advance booking. The film has now sold 10,000 tickets for its North American premiere shows, nearly three weeks ahead of release. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the big-budget entertainer had already created a record by becoming the fastest Indian film to cross $100K in North America pre-sales, achieving the milestone within just four hours of bookings opening. According to the latest trade reports, the premiere pre-sales in North America have now surpassed the $300K mark, signalling strong buzz for the film among overseas audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's strong advance booking trend is being driven by Ram Charan's growing popularity after RRR, along with the strong response to the promotional material and songs. Trade circles are expecting Peddi to emerge as one of the biggest premiere grossers for a Telugu film in North America if the current pace continues over the coming days. Reports suggest Peddi is aiming for a massive release with hundreds of premiere shows planned across the USA and Canada. The film stars Janhvi Kapoor as the female lead alongside Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyenndu in key roles. The music has been composed by A. R. Rahman. Produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and IVY Entertainment, Peddi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on June 4, 2026.

Kollywood

5 days ago

2K views

Karuppu 9 AM Shows Cancelled Amidst Mass Confusion—But Can These Massive Advance Booking Numbers Still Save the Day?

BY SACNILK

If you have been following the buzz around Suriya's latest outing, Karuppu, you probably noticed some mixed signals hitting your feed this morning. While the anticipation for this RJ Balaji directorial has been sky-high, the release day has started with a bit of a hurdle. Producer S.R. Prabhu recently took to social media to announce that the 9 AM shows for the film have been cancelled due to unavoidable reasons. This news has come as a surprise to many fans who were ready to catch the early screenings of this Dream Warrior Pictures production. The situation seems a bit complex as we look closer at the reactions from the ground. Director RJ Balaji also shared a heartfelt note, acknowledging that the film has faced several hurdles over its 32-month journey. He mentioned that while there isn't a concrete answer for the current delay yet, the production team is working hard to resolve the issues. It is also important to remember that early morning shows have been a point of contention in the state for a few years now, following safety concerns and government regulations. Despite these early morning hiccups, the box office outlook for Karuppu remains very positive. When we look at the advance booking data, the numbers tell a story of immense fan interest. The film has managed to rake in a gross of 6.31 crore through advance bookings alone, excluding block seats. If we factor in those block seats, the total jumps to an impressive 11.33 crore. This puts the movie in a very strong position to secure a double-digit opening day, which is a significant milestone for any major release. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A closer look at the statistics shows that the Tamil 2D version is the primary driver of this growth, contributing over 3.83 crore to the total. With over 4,300 shows scheduled for the Tamil 2D format and an average ticket price of 168 rupees, the volume of sales is quite high. The Telugu version is also contributing its share with a gross of 1.85 crore from over 800 shows. In total, nearly 3.9 lakh tickets were sold before the first reel even started spinning, showing that the audience was more than ready for Suriya's return to the big screen. The cancellation of the early morning slots might lead to a slight dip in the potential day one total, but the sheer momentum from the advance bookings should provide a solid cushion. Historically, films with such strong pre-sales tend to recover quickly once the regular shows begin. The trend we are seeing here is logical; the high demand is evident, and the audience is simply waiting for the gates to open. Compared to other big-ticket releases this year, Karuppu is currently tracking among the top performers in terms of pre-release interest. Dearest fans, I dont have a concrete answer to the current situation. Producers are doing their best to solve the hurdles. This film has always had hurdles, and somehow God has made us sail through all that and here we are after 32 months. This time as well, I have faith,…— RJ Balaji (@RJ_Balaji) May 13, 2026 As we move into the afternoon and evening, the focus will shift to how quickly the theaters can resume their scheduled programming. If the technical or administrative hurdles are cleared soon, the strong occupancy seen in the advance reports suggests that the evening shows will be packed. For now, it is a waiting game for the fans, but the financial data suggests that Karuppu is still on track to be a major player at the box office this weekend.

Box Office

6 days ago

5.8K views

Karuppu Day 1 Advance Booking: 119K BMS Sales and Special 9 AM Shows; Can Suriya Surpass Parasakthi's Record-Breaking Opening

BY SACNILK

If you have been following the buzz around Suriya's latest outing, Karuppu, the advance booking numbers suggest a project that is finding a solid footing ahead of its release. Directed by RJ Balaji and produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, the film has managed to secure a significant theatrical window. In a major move to accommodate the anticipated rush, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has approved special 9 AM shows for the first two days, May 14 and 15, giving the film a much-needed headstart in its home territory. While the advance numbers for Karuppu are promising, they are being measured against a very high bar set earlier this year. Currently, Parasakthi holds the record for the biggest opening day of the year in Tamil Nadu, having netted 12.50 crore on its first day across 3,603 shows. That translated to a domestic gross of 14.50 crore. For Karuppu to claim the top spot, it will need to leverage its higher show count of 4,384 and the approved special shows to bridge that gap. Surpassing the benchmark set by Parasakthi remains the primary challenge as the film heads into its release day. Looking at the domestic financial haul, Karuppu has already amassed approximately 3.00 crore in advance booking gross across India. When you factor in blocked seats, that figure stretches to 5.59 crore. The Tamil version is clearly doing the heavy lifting here, contributing 2.85 crore of that total. With 177,660 tickets already sold for the first day across 3,809 shows in the Tamil 2D format, the movie is entering the box office with a healthy reservoir of pre-release interest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The regional distribution shows a strong preference in major hubs. Chennai remains the focal point, contributing 1.18 crore with a 29 percent occupancy rate across 718 shows. If we look at the broader Tamil Nadu landscape, the film has secured 2.35 crore in gross bookings with a 17 percent real occupancy. Neighboring markets are also chipping in, with Coimbatore adding 28.85 lakh and Bengaluru's Tamil version bringing in 24.31 lakh. Beyond the primary state, Kerala and Karnataka have added 20.89 lakh and 27.19 lakh respectively, ensuring the film has a balanced footprint across the South. While the Tamil version dominates, the Telugu market is also beginning to register. The aggregate Telugu 2D bookings stand at 14.38 lakh from 575 shows. A closer look at the Telugu-speaking regions reveals that Hyderabad is leading the pack with 6.73 lakh. Other contributors include Warangal at 54.29 thousand, Vijayawada at 39.15 thousand, and Vizag at 24.59 thousand. Though occupancy rates in these regions are currently modest—hovering around 6 percent in Hyderabad—the sheer number of cities, including Guntur, Karimnagar, and Mahbubnagar, indicates a wide release strategy that could see a boost once the early reviews are out. The digital footprint on BookMyShow has shown an aggressive upward curve over the last few days. Starting with 13.42 thousand tickets on May 10, the bookings jumped to 31.72 thousand on May 11, and then skyrocketed to 74.09 thousand by May 12. This brings the cumulative BMS sales to 119.23 thousand tickets. Even within the day, the pace is quick; between 1 PM and 2 PM today, the platform sold over 4.3 thousand tickets, contributing to a total of 22.34 thousand tickets sold since 7 AM this morning. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) To stay updated with the live trends and final numbers from the pre-sales period, you can check the full report here: Karuppu 2026 First Day Advance Booking Report. The national multiplex chains are also providing a steady stream of revenue. For the opening weekend, the cumulative ticket sales across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis have reached a solid 84.5 thousand as of 3 pm on May 13. Breaking this down by day, the release day (Thursday) has booked 44.9 thousand tickets. Friday follows with 15.1 thousand, Saturday with 13.1 thousand, and Sunday with 11.4 thousand. Within these chains, PVR is the primary driver, accounting for over 31.8 thousand tickets for the opening day alone, reflecting a 30 percent occupancy rate in their screens. On the international front, the North American market is showing a more cautious start with total premiere advance sales standing at 18 thousand dollars, which is approximately 15.12 lakh in Indian currency. When you factor in the combined opening day bookings, the total North American tally reaches 32 thousand dollars, or about 26.88 lakh. Looking specifically at the USA premieres, the film has secured 6,717 dollars (around 5.64 lakh) from 468 tickets sold across 30 locations. While these figures have been somewhat affected by late premiere start times, the project still maintains a visible presence in major states like California and Texas as it prepares for its global rollout. Ultimately, Karuppu is heading into its release with a domestic ticket tally of over 188 thousand across 4,384 shows. By securing special shows and maintaining a high volume of shows in its primary language, the film has created a sturdy foundation. While the overseas and Telugu markets are still warming up, the sheer dominance in Tamil Nadu suggests that the film has enough fuel to ensure a respectable opening weekend at the box office.

Box Office

6 days ago

4.5K views

Karuppu Box Office: Suriya Starrer Sells Over 50K Tickets In Advance Sales; Worldwide Totals Approach Rs. 2 Crore Mark

BY SACNILK

Suriya is finally returning to the big screen with his upcoming film Karuppu, and the early buzz suggests that the audience has been eagerly waiting for this moment. Directed by RJ Balaji, the film is being positioned as a large-scale superhero entertainer, a genre that is quite rare in the Tamil film industry. The combination of Suriya, who is known for his versatile performances, and RJ Balaji, who has a knack for blending social messages with entertainment, has created a significant amount of curiosity. The film is produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, a banner known for backing high-quality content like Kaithi and Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru, which further adds to the expectations. Before the film even reaches the theaters on May 14, the business side of things looks very healthy. Reports indicate that the movie has already locked in over 110 crore in pre-release business through its non-theatrical avenues, which includes digital streaming rights, satellite rights, and music. This massive figure provides a strong financial safety net for the producers. In the domestic market, the theatrical rights for Tamil Nadu alone were reportedly sold for around 40 to 42 crore. For a mid-week release on a Thursday, these numbers indicate that distributors are highly confident in the film's potential to draw crowds during its opening weekend. It is worth noting that the journey to this May 14 release hasn't been a quick one, as the film moved through several tentative windows before locking its current date. Initially, there were talks of a Diwali 2025 release, but unfinished post-production and the need for extensive CGI work pushed it further. Subsequent slots like Pongal in January 2026, and even dates in March and April, were bypassed to navigate technical hurdles, digital rights negotiations, and to avoid the busy exam season. Director RJ Balaji has been vocal about these delays, explaining that the extra time was essential to perfect the complex visual effects needed for the superhero elements of the deity Karuppusamy. He also made a strategic choice to avoid the political noise surrounding the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, picking this mid-May window specifically to ensure that families could focus on entertainment during the peak summer holidays. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Looking at the advance booking trends, the momentum is picking up quite rapidly. On BookMyShow alone, we have seen about 13,420 tickets booked as of May 10. When we broaden the scope to the tracked advance bookings across India for the opening day, the film has already grossed approximately 91 lakh. This has come from selling nearly 54,700 tickets across roughly 800 shows. The current occupancy rate is hovering around 18 percent, but what is more interesting is the presence of over 50 shows that are either already housefull or filling up fast. This level of activity four days before the release suggests that the numbers will likely double or triple as we get closer to the premiere. The speed of sales in Tamil Nadu has been particularly impressive. When bookings opened, the film managed to cross 10 lakh in pre-sales in under 20 minutes, and it hit the 40 lakh mark in just about an hour. Currently, Tamil Nadu is the strongest contributor with a gross of around 75 lakh. Kerala is also showing great promise with over 13 lakh in collections from about 300 shows. Other states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are currently at 1.3 lakh and 0.9 lakh respectively, but these numbers are expected to rise as more local language shows are added to the schedule. Internationally, the film is performing well with overseas pre-sales estimated at 1.39 crore, bringing the worldwide total advance booking close to the 2 crore mark already. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) To stay updated with the live trends and final numbers from the pre-sales period, you can check the full report here: Karuppu 2026 First Day Advance Booking Report. What makes Karuppu stand out is its unique premise. Suriya plays a lawyer named Saravanan who essentially becomes a vessel for the ancient guardian deity, Karuppuswamy. The plot seems to blend a modern legal battle with supernatural superhero elements, focusing on a superhuman guardian who awakens to restore order in a corrupt society. This mixture of ancient mythology and contemporary social issues is right in RJ Balaji's wheelhouse. Supporting the leads are Trisha Krishnan and a strong ensemble cast including Yogi Babu, Natarajan Subramaniam, and Mansoor Ali Khan, which ensures a mix of drama and humor throughout the narrative. On the technical front, the film has a very strong lineup. G.K. Vishnu, who earned a lot of praise for his work in Jawan and Mersal, is handling the cinematography, so we can expect a very high visual standard. The action sequences are choreographed by Anbariv and Vikram Mor, who are known for their high-impact work in films like KGF and Vikram. This suggests that the superhero transformation and the deity's ancient strength will be showcased through some intense, high-energy sequences, especially in the climax. With Sai Abhyankkar’s music already generating interest, the film seems to have all the components of a major commercial entertainer. As long as the content matches the current hype, we could be looking at one of the biggest openings for Suriya in recent times.

Mollywood

8 days ago

3.1K views

Drishyam 3 Advance Booking: Mohanlal Starrer Nears 2 Crore After Strong Start

BY SACNILK

Kochi, May 11 - Drishyam 3 is carrying extraordinary buzz ahead of its theatrical release, with excitement surrounding the return of Mohanlal's iconic character Georgekutty reaching fever pitch among audiences. The trailer, promotional material, and the franchise's massive popularity have created strong anticipation across Kerala as well as overseas markets. Reflecting the hype, the film's advance booking has opened to an impressive response, even though the release is still around 10 days away, and full-fledged bookings in several major centres are yet to commence. As of 9 AM on May 11, the film has collected around 1.75 crore gross in Kerala booking sales and is now inching closer to the 2 crore mark. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The booking has opened on a strong note with nearly 10 days still left for release, while the full-fledged booking is yet to begin. Overseas markets are also witnessing strong momentum, with worldwide pre-sales having crossed the 5 crore mark for the opening day, including fan shows. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film is scheduled to release on May 21, 2026. Drishyam 3 continues the story of Georgekutty and his family after the events of the previous two blockbuster instalments. The film also stars Meena, Ansiba Hassan, and Esther Anil in key roles. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Trade analysts believe the franchise value and Mohanlal's popularity are driving the strong pre-release buzz. It will be looking to score one of the biggest openings for a Malayalam film, and if word of mouth is positive, then the sky is the limit. The Drishyam series remains one of Indian cinema's most celebrated thriller franchises, with both earlier films becoming massive critical and commercial successes across languages.

Tollywood

11 days ago

5.4K views

Peddi Advance Booking (North America): Ram Charan Starrer Hits $100K In No Time

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, May 8 - The advance booking storm for superstar Ram Charan starrer Peddi has officially begun in North America, and the response has been nothing short of phenomenal. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the highly-anticipated sports action drama crossed the $100K mark in premiere pre-sales within no time of bookings opening, setting the stage for what could become one of the biggest sales for a Telugu. The film's pre-sales momentum has already surpassed the early booking record of almost every Indian film in North America, with the fastest $100K booking in just 4 hours. Trade circles are now closely tracking Peddi's pace as the buzz continues to grow rapidly among overseas audiences, especially in the USA, where Ram Charan enjoys huge popularity following the global success of RRR. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) North America Premiere Pre-Sales In The First 24-Hours (Telugu) S. No. Movie Premiere Pre-Sales 1 Peddi $100K+ (4 hours) 2 OG Movie $82K+ 3 Devara Part 1 $75K+ 4 Pushpa 2 $52K+ 5 Salaar Part 1 $40K+ The strong start proves Ram Charan's box office pull among the Indian diaspora in North America. Trade believes the film has the potential to emerge as one of the biggest premiere grossers, not for the actor but also for an Indian film, if the current trend continues over the coming weeks. The promotional material, songs, and the rustic sports-drama backdrop have generated strong curiosity among audiences. Produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and IVY Entertainment on a massive scale, Peddi features Janhvi Kapoor as the female lead alongside an ensemble cast including Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyenndu. The music has been composed by A. R. Rahman, while the film is gearing up for a grand worldwide theatrical release on June 4, 2026, with a North American premiere on June 3rd.

Tollywood

13 days ago

5.2K views

Ram Charan's Peddi and Mohanlal's Drishyam 3 Overseas Advance Booking Update

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, May 6 - The upcoming Indian films have been carrying massive expectations, and two of the most-awaited immediate next titles, superstar Ram Charan's Peddi and mega star Mohanlal's Drishyam 3 are set to ignite the box office, not just in India but in international markets amid the growing anticipation. Peddi North America Advance Booking (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the rural sports action drama marks his first film with RRR star, and the film has been one of the most anticipated ever since it was announced. Despite dealing blows with multiple release date postponements, the buzz for Peddi remains high with the trade anticipating it to emerge as one of the biggest Telugu blockbusters. Also starring Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu and Divyenndu, Peddi is scheduled to release on June 4 with a North America premiere slated on June 3. In an exciting development, the makers have confirmed that the advance booking for the US premiere will kick off on May 7 at 8 PM EST, nearing a month before the release. Given the excitement around the film, Peddi is expected to deliver one of the biggest premieres for an Indian film. Drishyam 3 Overseas Advance Booking Opens (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) It has been a good year for Malayalam cinema so far, and the industry is now gearing up for potentially the biggest Malayalam film ever in terms of box office potential in the form of Drishyam 3. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, it is the third instalment in the iconic crime suspense thriller franchise, headed by Mohanlal. Drishyam 3 is scheduled to hit the big screens on May 21 after getting postponed for the originally planned April 2 release. With two weeks left before the release, the advance booking for the same has opened in the United Kingdom, North America, and the Gulf countries on May 6, and if the pre-release buzz is anything to go by, Drishaym 3 is expected to score huge numbers in bookings itself.

Box Office

18 days ago

6.2K views

Patriot Final Advance Booking: Rs. 21+ Crore Worldwide Pre-Sales Secures Second-Biggest Malayalam Opening and Positions Film for a 100 Crore Weekend

BY SACNILK

The much-awaited Malayalam actioner Patriot is off to a scorching start at the box office. Featuring the powerhouse trio of Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Fahadh Faasil, the film is officially the most expensive Malayalam production ever, with a massive budget estimated between 125 and 140 crores. This scale is evident on screen, with the story of a retired JAG officer and a colonel fighting a national security conspiracy shot across global locations like London, Azerbaijan, and Thailand. Even before the first show began, the pre-sales figures made it clear that we are looking at a historic opener. Starting with its home turf, Kerala, the film has managed a final pre-sale figure of around 5.45 crores. This is a huge achievement as it becomes only the tenth film in history to cross the 4 crore mark in Kerala advance bookings, joining big names like Odiyan and Leo. The ticket velocity was particularly wild during the initial hours; over 32,000 tickets were sold in the very first hour, which jumped to 85,000 by 1 PM on the first day. This record-breaking pace has pushed it to become the second-best advance for a Malayalam film in the state. To give you some perspective, here is how the top leaderboard for Kerala pre-sales looks now: Empuraan: 11.75 Crores Coolie: 8.05 Crores Leo: 7.60 Crores Patriot: 5.45 Crores Coming to the performance in national multiplex chains, the trend has been quite interesting. While the activity was almost non-existent on April 30 with less than a hundred tickets sold, it saw a massive spike as May 1 approached. On the opening day, the film sold over 54,000 tickets across major chains, bringing in a gross of nearly 1.75 crores. The momentum is staying strong for the rest of the weekend too, with bookings for May 2 already crossing the 20,000 mark. Occupancy levels are also looking healthy, with chains like PVR and Cinepolis showing nearly 50 percent occupancy for day one shows. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Moving to the digital side of things, the response on BookMyShow has been equally dominant. Patriot wrapped up its pre-sales on the platform with 333,000 tickets. The final 24 hours before release saw a huge surge, with 145,000 tickets booked in that window alone. In the context of Malayalam films released since 2024, this puts it at the number two spot, ahead of major hits like The GOAT Life at 309,000 and Aadu 3 at 235,000. While the 1.3 million record set by Empuraan is still far off, Patriot has created a significant gap between itself and other recent releases. The international market has provided another massive boost to these numbers. Overseas pre-sales have touched the 14 crore mark, with the GCC region alone contributing a solid 7.11 crores. When you add the 1.70 crores from the rest of India and the strong Kerala numbers, the total worldwide pre-sales stand at a staggering 21.15 crores. This makes it the second-biggest global advance in the history of Malayalam cinema, trailing only behind the record-breaking figures of Empuraan. Overall, with a combined three-day weekend advance of roughly 28 crores, the film is perfectly positioned for a historic run. Since today is a May 1st holiday, the movie is expected to gain huge traction from walk-in audiences, putting it on a clear path to potentially breach the 100 crore gross mark globally over the long weekend. Given the massive 130 crore plus investment, the trade will be watching the weekday holds closely, but if the initial word of mouth stays positive, Patriot is set to completely redefine the commercial potential of the industry.

Mollywood

21 days ago

2.9K views

Patriot Advance Booking: Mammootty, Mohanlal Starrer Off To Excellent Start In Kerala

BY SACNILK

Kochi, April 28 - Malayalam mega stars Mammootty and Mohanlal's much-awaited spy action thriller Patriot is heading towards taking a massive start at the box office with advance booking kicking off in a blockbuster note ahead of May 1st release. Advance Booking Takes a Flying Start Bookings for Patriot opened in Kerala on April 28, and early trends indicate an excellent start with tickets being sold quickly. Within minutes, the film sold 10K tickets, and by 1 PM, it had sold 85K tickets worth over 1.50 lakh in Kerala. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Trade reports suggest that shows could fill up quickly, driven by the massive hype surrounding this rare reunion. The excitement is not surprising, considering this is one of the biggest Malayalam multi-starrers in recent years, bringing together two of the industry's biggest icons after a long gap under director Mahesh Narayan. Overseas Response Already Massive Even before Kerala bookings went live, the film had already created a strong base internationally. Overseas advance sales crossed $200,000 (1.8+ crore), signalling robust global demand. This early traction highlights the film's wide appeal beyond India, especially in GCC markets, where it is expected to score massive numbers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Big Expectations Ahead of Release Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, Patriot is a high-stakes spy thriller featuring a massive ensemble cast including Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, and Nayanthara. With strong advance booking trends, positive early buzz, and massive fan anticipation, Patriot is shaping up to be one of the biggest Malayalam openings of 2026.