The first half of 2026 has been an eventful period for Malayalam cinema, witnessing a mix of blockbuster successes and high-profile failures. After the relief that Nivin Pauly’s Sarvam Maya brought theatres in late 2025, the first three months of the new year were relatively dull at the box office. The industry gained momentum only in April with the release of hits such as Aadu 3 and Vaazha II.
Among the films released in January, the Arjun Ashokan–Roshan Mathew starrer Chatha Pacha delivered a decent box-office performance, collecting over Rs 30 crore worldwide. Jayaram's Ashakal Aayiram received positive reviews but failed to translate its appreciation into strong box-office numbers. Similarly, Bhavana's Anomie, which was released in February, did not perform well commercially.
Major Box-Office Winners
The biggest success stories of the year so far include Drishyam 3, Vaazha II, Aadu 3, Mohiniyattam, Athiradi and Prakambanam. Chidambaram's Balan has got phenomenal response from the audience and critics alike.
Mohanlal in Drishyam 3
Drishyam 3
Mohanlal and Jeethu Joseph's Drishyam 3 emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year. According to the makers, the film has grossed Rs 235 crore worldwide, while its overall business, including theatrical and OTT revenue, stands at around Rs 330 crore.
Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film benefited from the immense goodwill of the Drishyam franchise. Advance bookings opened more than a week before release, resulting in a strong opening. The film also maintained a steady run after release, supported by franchise loyalty and family audiences.
Also read: Drishyam 3 movie review: Jeethu Joseph reduces Mohanlal-led franchise to generic but passable revenge drama
Vaazha II
Released during the Easter season, Vaazha II turned out to be one of the year's biggest surprises. Produced on a reported budget of Rs 12 crore, the film grossed Rs 234 crore worldwide.
The film featured several social media personalities, including Hashir H, Alan Bin Siraj, Ajin Joy, Vinayak V and Devaraj, all of whom enjoy significant popularity on Instagram. Their fan following translated into strong theatre footfalls, while positive word-of-mouth and repeat viewings helped the film achieve blockbuster status.
Mohiniyattam
Mohiniyattam, the sequel to Bharatanatyam (2024), also emerged as a successful venture. Made on a budget of around Rs 5-6 crore, the film grossed nearly Rs 40 crore worldwide. The film further expanded its audience after its Netflix premiere. Interestingly, Bharatanatyam was not a theatrical success but found widespread acceptance following its OTT release on Amazon Prime Video.
Director Krishnadas Murali had earlier stated that there is no fixed formula for success and credited the OTT popularity of Bharatanatyam for creating awareness and anticipation for its sequel. The film also featured popular Malayalam rapper Baby Jean in a major role.
Aadu 3
Aadu 3 became the first Malayalam film of 2026 to cross the Rs 100-crore mark worldwide. Although the film received mixed reviews, it performed strongly during its initial weeks. However, the arrival of Vaazha II affected its theatrical run. Despite the competition, the Jayasurya starrer eventually emerged as a profitable venture.
Sambhavam Adhyayam Onnu
Sambhavam Adhyayam Onnu was another film that found appreciation both in theatres and on OTT through JioHotstar. An expansion of a short film based on the same concept, the movie offered Malayalam audiences a fresh blend of time-loop storytelling, mystery and horror. Director Jithu Satheeshan Mangalathu credited his experience with short films for helping him shape the feature-length project.
Speaking about the response, the filmmaker said he was pleasantly surprised by the film's success and described it as a motivating factor for his future projects. He also revealed that the story is planned as a two-part franchise, although significant development work remains before the next instalment can move forward.
Prakambanam
Vinesh Panathur's horror-comedy Prakambanam, starring Sagar Surya, Ganapathi, Ameen Madathil and Mallika Sukumaran, also emerged as a surprise superhit. Horror-comedies remain relatively uncommon in Malayalam cinema, but the film's entertaining treatment and performances helped it connect with audiences.
Ameen Madathil, who gained popularity through Instagram reels, and Sagar Surya, known for his performance in Joju George's Pani, were among the film's major attractions.
Athiradi and Mollywood Times
The Basil Joseph–Tovino Thomas starrer Athiradi also found its audience and collected more than Rs 60 crore worldwide. While the film was successful, it fell short of blockbuster status. Its box-office performance was impacted by the release of Drishyam 3.
Meanwhile, Naslen's Mollywood Times, directed by Abhinav Sundar Nayak, generated significant pre-release buzz. Although the film received mixed reviews, it has managed a respectable theatrical run.
Also read: Mollywood Times Review: Naslen-starrer explores filmmakers chasing fame while revealing the industry’s downsides
Big-Budget Films Fail to Deliver
While several medium-budget films exceeded expectations, many big-budget productions struggled to justify their investments. The most notable example was Patriot, which brought together veteran stars Mammootty and Mohanlal on screen after 18 years. Despite massive anticipation, the film received mixed reviews and faced criticism for not giving sufficient screen space to Mohanlal. The film was also widely trolled on social media.
Addressing the criticism during a television appearance, Mohanlal stated that he was satisfied with his role and suggested that some viewers may not have liked the way his character's arc concluded. Made on a reported budget of Rs 125 crore, Patriot grossed approximately Rs 80 crore worldwide, making it one of the year's biggest disappointments.
Similarly, Tovino Thomas' Pallichattambi, produced on a budget of around Rs 40 crore, managed to collect only about Rs 18 crore worldwide. Nivin Pauly's Prathichya also failed to make an impact at the box office, collecting roughly Rs 8 crore from theatres. Another major setback came in the form of Kattalan. Despite its large budget and strong pre-release expectations, the film failed to resonate with audiences and ultimately ended its run as a box-office dud.
Content Remains King
According to a Kerala-based exhibitor, the performance pattern differs significantly between big-budget and smaller films. "Big-ticket films usually open with strong advance bookings and impressive initial collections. Smaller films often take time to find their audience. Ultimately, everything depends on the quality of the content. If the film connects with viewers, collections remain steady. If not, the numbers drop sharply after the opening weekend," the exhibitor said.
The first half of 2026 has once again demonstrated that while star power and large budgets can guarantee an opening, long-term success ultimately depends on audience acceptance and strong content.
