Drishyam 3, director Jeethu Joseph's eagerly anticipated conclusion to the beloved Malayalam crime thriller franchise, showed no signs of slowing on Tuesday as the film crossed the Rs 150 crore mark at the worldwide box office — a milestone that confirms its place among the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. The Mohanlal-starrer, which had already crossed Rs 100 crore in just 58 hours of release, continued to draw large crowds at PVR Inox and Cinepolis multiplexes across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and major metros including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore.

Industry trackers at Sacnilk and BoxOfficeIndia reported Tuesday's single-day collection estimates placing the film firmly on course to challenge the all-time Malayalam box office record held by Lucifer, also starring Mohanlal. Trade analysts noted that the film's word-of-mouth — driven by strong reviews praising the screenplay's twists and Mohanlal's restrained yet commanding performance — remained exceptionally robust heading into the weekday window.

Director Jeethu Joseph, who has shepherded the franchise from its modest 2013 origins to this landmark conclusion, took to social media Tuesday to express gratitude to audiences, writing that the response had 'exceeded every expectation we dared to have.' Producer Antony Perumbavoor of Aashirvad Cinemas confirmed that the film's theatrical run would be extended in several key markets following overwhelming demand, with additional shows added at multiplex chains in the UAE and the United States.

Overseas markets, particularly North America, the Gulf, and the United Kingdom, contributed significantly to the cumulative total, reflecting the deep engagement of the global Malayali diaspora with the franchise. The North American distributor reported that shows in cities such as New York, Toronto, Houston, and Los Angeles continued to sell out well into the second week, an unusual achievement for a regional Indian language film.

With OTT rights already the subject of intense bidding between major streaming platforms — Amazon Prime Video India and Disney+ Hotstar are both reported to be in the running — the commercial triumph of Drishyam 3 is expected to reshape the landscape for big-budget Malayalam productions heading into the second half of 2026. Industry observers say the film's success vindicates the growing confidence of pan-India distributors in backing Malayalam-language tentpoles at scale.