The much-anticipated spy-action thriller Patriot, starring Mammootty and Mohanlal, opened to a strong start at the box office but is already showing signs of slowing down amid mixed audience reactions.
Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the film collected an impressive ₹9.8 crore on its opening day, followed by ₹6.15 crore on Saturday, taking its two-day India net total to ₹16.15 crore. Overseas, the film has performed strongly, adding ₹15 crore on day two alone and pushing its international gross to ₹31.50 crore. This helped Patriot cross the ₹50 crore mark worldwide within just two days, with a total gross of ₹50.23 crore.
However, the momentum appears to have dipped on Sunday. Despite being a weekend, the film struggled to maintain its pace, collecting around ₹3.12–₹3.69 crore domestically by evening shows. This brings its total India net collection to approximately ₹19–₹20 crore.
Occupancy trends reflect this slowdown. On day two, the film recorded an overall Malayalam occupancy of around 25.92% in morning shows, which gradually improved to about 54.58% during night shows. Overall occupancy hovered between 40–43%, indicating decent but not overwhelming footfall. The number of shows also reduced from 2,636 on day one to 2,374 on day two, impacting collections.
Regionally, Kerala remained the film’s strongest market, contributing approximately ₹5.25 crore on Saturday, followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Cities like Bengaluru and Kochi led in occupancy, each registering close to 30%.
Featuring an ensemble cast including Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Nayanthara, Revathi, Darshana Rajendran, and Rajiv Menon, the film has been praised for its technical finesse and grounded storytelling. The music and background score by Sushin Shyam have also garnered attention.
That said, audience feedback has been mixed. While many have appreciated the film’s political undertones and restrained approach, criticism has been directed at parts of the screenplay and character development, particularly concerning Fahadh Faasil’s role.
With weekday trends set to determine its long-term performance, Patriot now faces a crucial test at the box office after an explosive but uneven start.
