Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi’s courtroom drama Jolly LLB 3 has wrapped up its third week at the box office with mixed results. While the film managed to cross the ₹106 crore mark in 21 days, its journey reflects both resilience and missed opportunities in an increasingly competitive theatrical landscape.
Jolly LLB 3: Three-Week Performance Snapshot
| Milestone | Collection | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Day | ₹12.00 crore | Day 1 |
| Opening Weekend | ₹50.00 crore | Days 1-3 |
| First Week | ₹70.00 crore | Days 1-7 |
| Second Week | ₹28.90 crore | Days 8-14 |
| Third Week | ₹7.40 crore | Days 15-21 |
| Total (21 Days) | ₹106.30 crore | 3 Weeks |
| Projected Finish | ₹110 crore | Final Run |
Week Three: Crawling Toward the Finish Line
The third week added a modest ₹7.40 crore to the film’s total, with Day 21 (third Thursday) contributing an estimated ₹50 lakh. This represents a significant drop from previous weeks, signaling that the film is entering its final theatrical phase.
Despite facing stiff competition from two major releases—Kantara: Chapter 1 and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari—the film didn’t completely collapse, which offers a silver lining. However, as box office analysts note, the real damage occurred during the crucial first week when the film failed to capitalize on its strong opening.
The ₹100 Crore Achievement: Success or Survival?
Crossing the ₹100 crore threshold is no small feat, especially in today’s fragmented entertainment landscape where OTT platforms compete heavily for audience attention. For Akshay Kumar, this marks a return to the three-digit club after recent disappointments.
The film performed better than Kumar’s other 2024-25 releases like Kesari Chapter 2 and Sky Force, establishing it as a relative success in his recent filmography. However, when compared to contemporaries like Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par (₹250+ crore worldwide) and Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2, Jolly LLB 3 falls considerably short.
Day-by-Day Collection Breakdown
The film’s trajectory reveals a classic pattern of strong opening weekend followed by steep declines:
Week 1 (Days 1-7): ₹70 crore
- Peak performance on Day 3 (₹19.75 crore)
- Significant weekday drop after Sunday
Week 2 (Days 8-14): ₹28.90 crore
- Weekend boost on Days 9-10 (₹7 crore and ₹6.75 crore)
- Steady weekday decline
Week 3 (Days 15-21): ₹7.40 crore
- Daily collections under ₹1 crore
- Weekend collections barely reaching ₹2.25 crore
This pattern indicates that while the franchise has loyal fans who showed up opening weekend, word-of-mouth wasn’t strong enough to sustain momentum.
What Worked and What Didn’t
The Positives:
Star Power Delivered: The reunion of Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi generated significant opening weekend buzz, proving the franchise still has pulling power.
Franchise Value: As the third installment in a beloved courtroom comedy series, the film benefited from established goodwill and brand recognition.
Resilience: Despite competition, the film held better than many recent Akshay Kumar releases, showing audience interest in quality content.
The Challenges:
First Week Underperformance: The film’s failure to maintain momentum during the crucial first week limited its overall potential.
Mixed Reviews: Critical reception was lukewarm, affecting word-of-mouth recommendations that drive long-term collections.
Heavy Competition: Kantara: Chapter 1‘s phenomenal performance (₹100+ crore in just 8 days) overshadowed Jolly LLB 3 in weeks two and three.
Akshay Kumar’s Box Office Journey
For Akshay Kumar, Jolly LLB 3 represents a stabilization after a challenging phase. The actor, once known for delivering consistent ₹100+ crore hits, has faced several setbacks recently. This film proves he can still attract audiences with the right franchise and content.
Fox Star Studios, the production house behind the Jolly LLB franchise, can take satisfaction in the film crossing the ₹100 crore mark, even if it didn’t reach blockbuster status.
Industry Context: The Changing Theatrical Landscape
Jolly LLB 3‘s performance must be viewed against the backdrop of evolving audience preferences. With streaming platforms offering comfort and variety, theatrical releases face unprecedented challenges. TechnoSports explores how digital platforms are reshaping entertainment consumption.
The ₹110 crore projected finish is respectable but not spectacular in an era where true blockbusters are expected to cross ₹200-300 crore. The film represents the middle-tier success that’s becoming increasingly rare—neither a disaster nor a phenomenon.
What’s Next for the Franchise?
Despite the average performance, the Jolly LLB franchise retains value. The courtroom comedy-drama format has proven appeal, and both lead actors bring significant star power. A potential Jolly LLB 4 could capitalize on lessons learned, focusing on tighter scripting and more aggressive marketing.
Final Verdict
Jolly LLB 3 will close its theatrical run around ₹110 crore—a decent outcome that ensures profitability but falls short of blockbuster territory. In Akshay Kumar’s career, it’s a step in the right direction after recent misfires. For audiences, it provided courtroom entertainment that satisfied franchise fans without creating new converts.
The film proves that franchise value and star power still matter, but in today’s discerning market, they’re not enough without compelling content and strong word-of-mouth. As the credits roll on this chapter, the verdict is clear: average performance with room for appeal.
FAQs
Q1: How does Jolly LLB 3’s box office performance compare to the previous films in the franchise?
Jolly LLB (2013) starring Arshad Warsi was a modest hit, collecting approximately ₹30 crore on a small budget, making it a profitable venture. Jolly LLB 2 (2017) featuring Akshay Kumar was significantly bigger, earning around ₹117 crore domestically, establishing the franchise’s commercial viability. Jolly LLB 3 is projected to finish around ₹110 crore, slightly below Jolly LLB 2 despite higher production values and star power. When adjusted for inflation and the post-pandemic theatrical landscape, Jolly LLB 3 represents a plateau rather than growth for the franchise. However, it remains profitable and demonstrates that the courtroom comedy format continues to resonate with audiences, even if it didn’t match the sequel’s performance.
Q2: Why did Jolly LLB 3 struggle to maintain momentum after a strong opening weekend?
Several factors contributed to Jolly LLB 3‘s inability to sustain collections. First, mixed critical reviews dampened word-of-mouth, which is crucial for long theatrical runs. While franchise fans showed up opening weekend, the film failed to attract new audiences. Second, the arrival of Kantara: Chapter 1 in week two created formidable competition, draining screens and audience interest. Third, the film reportedly suffered from pacing issues and a predictable storyline that didn’t match the freshness of earlier installments. Additionally, Akshay Kumar’s recent string of underperformers may have made general audiences more cautious about committing to theatrical visits. The steep decline from ₹70 crore (Week 1) to ₹7.40 crore (Week 3) indicates that while the opening was strong, retention was weak—a classic sign of franchise fatigue without sufficient innovation.
