The countdown to the final chapter of one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated thriller franchises has entered its final stages. With Jeethu Joseph’s Drishyam 3 confirmed for a global theatrical release on 21 May 2026, the frenzy surrounding the fate of Georgekutty has reached an unprecedented scale.

Despite a minor delay from its original April slot, the rescheduling appears only to have heightened the appetite for Mohanlal’s return to his most iconic role.

Record-breaking pre-sales

Though the film is still 12 days away from its premiere, advance bookings are already rewriting the record books for Malayalam cinema. International pre-sales for opening day and premiere screenings have surged past $75,000, with total weekend bookings abroad currently standing at $115,000.

Closer to home, "fan shows" scheduled across Kerala have sold out within minutes of tickets going live. This surge has pushed the cumulative worldwide advance booking total past the ₹2 crore mark well before the general release.

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Challenging the box office throne

Industry analysts are closely watching to see if this suspense thriller can eclipse the opening day figures of Mohanlal’s recent blockbuster, L2: Empuraan, which raked in a staggering ₹22 crore on its debut.

Market experts suggest that the 21 May release date—carefully timed to coincide with Mohanlal’s birthday—will act as a significant catalyst, potentially driving the opening day collection to historic heights.

A global phenomenon

The Drishyam franchise has transitioned from a regional success into a pan-Indian phenomenon, having spawned several acclaimed remakes in multiple languages. The third installment reunites the original ensemble, with Meena, Ansiba Hassan, and Esther Anil returning as Georgekutty’s embattled family.

While the plot remains shrouded in Jeethu Joseph’s trademark secrecy, fans will not have to wait much longer for a glimpse of the action. The official trailer is scheduled for release today, Saturday 9 May, promising to offer a peek into how this decade-spanning saga will finally conclude. (With inputs from Agencies)