Drishyam 3 UK Advance Booking Opens 4 Weeks Early; Official Teaser Date Inside

Advance bookings for Mohanlal's Drishyam 3 are set to open in the UK today, marking an early start four weeks before the film's official theatrical release. Industry tracker AB George reported that RFT Films and the Cineworld chain are initiating this window, which is an unusually long lead time for an Indian film in the international market. Adding to the momentum, Mohanlal has officially announced that the first teaser of the film will be released tomorrow, April 29, 2026, at 5 PM IST.

The UK market has played a pivotal role in the global journey of this franchise, dating back to 2013 when the first Drishyam became the first Malayalam film to gross over ₹1 crore in the territory. While the 2021 sequel opted for a direct-to-digital release during the pandemic, Drishyam 3 marks the first major theatrical return for the series in over a decade. The landscape for Malayalam cinema in the UK has evolved significantly during this gap, with recent hits like Vaazha 2 and L2: Empuraan expanding the reach of regional content. Due to strong brand loyalty, the franchise is often viewed as a family event in the region, successfully drawing in non-Malayali audiences through subtitled screenings. With an expanded theater network now available, the third installment is positioned to potentially become the highest-grossing Malayalam thriller in the history of the UK box office.

This high-stakes global rollout is supported by a significant financial partnership established earlier this year. PEN Studios has committed an investment of ₹100 crore into Aashirvad Cinemas through Panorama Studios specifically for the production of the Malayalam original. This strategic collaboration between the major production houses ensures that the third installment is mounted on a massive scale, matching the worldwide demand and brand value that the Drishyam franchise has built over the years.

The project was initially scheduled for an April 2 release but was postponed due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. As the GCC market is a vital territory for Malayalam cinema, the makers opted for a strategic delay to ensure an optimal release window. It is now confirmed that the Malayalam version will arrive in theaters first, dismissing earlier reports of a simultaneous rollout with other versions to safeguard the film's narrative twists. Furthermore, the Hindi remake featuring Ajay Devgn is already set for an October 2, 2026, release, aligning with the Gandhi Jayanti holiday.

The decision by UK distributors to open bookings a month in advance highlights the massive brand equity of the Drishyam franchise. By providing a longer booking window, the team intends to capitalize on the popularity of the Georgekutty character to secure a strong opening weekend in Europe. While the original version leads the way, the Hindi remake featuring Ajay Devgn is already locked for a Gandhi Jayanti release on October 2, 2026, ensuring the franchise remains a topic of discussion throughout the year.

The speed at which a film reaches the ₹1 Crore pre-sales milestone has become a major benchmark for tracking superstar-led projects in Kerala. Currently, Empuraan holds the record for the fastest film to hit this mark, followed by Leo and the multi-starrer BhaBhaBa. The Mammootty-Mohanlal starrer Patriot also features prominently in this list of top openers, alongside the highly anticipated Coolie. With Drishyam 3 preparing for its domestic rollout, industry eyes are on whether the Mohanlal-Jeethu Joseph collaboration can challenge the top spot currently occupied by Empuraan and set a new standard for pre-release momentum in the state.

Drishyam 3 is positioned as a prestigious project intended to conclude the legendary thriller saga. The early booking rollout in the UK serves as a strategic move to establish a record-breaking global footprint, with similar early windows expected in North America and the Gulf. As one of the most anticipated sequels in Indian cinema, the film is expected to be a major high-priority title for the Mollywood box office, aiming to set new benchmarks for regional cinema on the international stage.