Mohanlal's Latest Film 'Patriot' Faces Major Box Office Struggles

The Malayalam film 'Patriot,' starring Mohanlal, has faced significant box office challenges, earning only a fraction of its production budget. Despite a strong opening, mixed reviews have led to a sharp decline in ticket sales. As the film nears the end of its run, industry observers are concerned about the implications for Mohanlal's future projects. With the upcoming release of 'Athiradi,' 'Patriot' is expected to struggle further, potentially finishing below the 35 crore net mark. This situation raises questions about the unpredictable nature of film success in today's competitive entertainment landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 13, 2026, 14:27 IST

Disappointing Performance of 'Patriot'

The Malayalam film "Patriot" was highly anticipated upon its release, but it has quickly turned into a letdown for its makers. After 12 days in theaters, the film has not performed well at the Indian box office, generating disappointing revenue. On its debut day, "Patriot" recorded the second-highest opening in Mollywood history, trailing only behind "L2: Empuraan." However, due to mixed to negative reviews, ticket sales plummeted, marking Mohanlal's second consecutive box office disappointment following "Vrusshabha."

This spy action thriller is now nearing the end of its theatrical run, struggling to attract significant weekday audiences. On its second Tuesday, the film garnered 38 lakh, bringing its total domestic earnings to 30.71 crore net, which is about 36.23 crore gross. With the upcoming release of "Athiradi" on May 14, "Patriot" is likely to see a further drop in ticket sales, potentially finishing its run below the 35 crore net threshold.

Mohanlal, who previously faced setbacks with "Vrusshabha," is now dealing with another disappointment with "Patriot." Produced with a budget of 125 crore, the film has only managed to earn 30.71 crore net so far. This means that in 12 days, it has recouped just 24.57% of its production costs, resulting in a staggering loss of 75.43%. Projections suggest that the film may conclude its run with a deficit of 72% or more, categorizing it as a box office failure.

Despite the shortcomings of "Patriot," Mohanlal's earlier film, "Vrusshabha," remains his most significant recent failure. That film, made on a budget of 70 crore, earned only 1.64 crore net, recovering a mere 2.34% of its costs and finishing with a staggering 97.66% deficit. The recent trends in Mohanlal's filmography raise concerns about the potential success of his upcoming projects.

As the box office landscape continues to change, industry analysts will closely monitor the performance of new releases and their effects on the careers of established stars like Mohanlal. The challenges faced by "Patriot" highlight the unpredictable nature of film success in the competitive entertainment industry.