From ‘Jailer 2’ to ‘Drishyam 3’: South Sequels Strike Gold at the Box Office in 2026

Sequels have emerged as one of South Indian cinema’s biggest box-office draws in 2026, with several established franchises delivering impressive numbers. The success of iconic franchises such as “Baahubali,” “KGF” and “Pushpa” has fuelled the popularity of multi-part storytelling, prompting filmmakers to build on established successes. With familiar characters, larger-than-life spectacles and cliffhanger endings that leave audiences wanting more, sequels have become an increasingly bankable proposition.
Variety India looks at some of this year’s notable South Indian sequels, comparing their box-office performance with that of their predecessors.

Tamil

“Jailer 2”: Rajinikanth and director Nelson Dilipkumar’s “Jailer” was released on August 10, 2023. Made on a reported budget of ₹200 crore, the film earned ₹348.55 crore net in India. Its sequel, “Jailer 2,” released on October 15, 2026, and collected ₹242.25 crore net in India over its extended opening weekend (till Monday, October 19), emerging as the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year so far. The sequel was reportedly made on an estimated budget of ₹240–300 crore.

"Gatta Kusthi 2”: Another franchise that grew was “Gatta Kusthi,” directed by Chella Ayyavu and starring Vishnu Vishal and Aishwarya Lekshmi. Released on December 2, 2022, the family drama cost ₹5 crore to make and earned ₹9.90 crore net in India. Its sequel, “Gatta Kusthi 2,” directed by Ayyavu and released on July 3, 2026, reportedly had a budget of ₹27 crore and collected ₹41.58 crore net in India.

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Malayalam

“Drishyam 3: The Past Never Stays Silent”: Mohanlal and director Jeethu Joseph’s “Drishyam,” made on a modest budget of ₹3.5–5 crore, was released in 2013. The film reportedly grossed around ₹62–63 crore worldwide. Its sequel, “Drishyam 2,” premiered directly on OTT in 2021 and therefore has no theatrical box-office figures to compare. The third installment, “Drishyam 3: The Past Never Stays Silent,” was released in May 2026. Made on a reported budget of ₹50 crore, the Mohanlal-starrer earned approximately ₹110.49 crore net in India, bringing the trilogy to a successful theatrical chapter.

“Vaazha II: Biopic of a Billion Bros”: Another Malayalam franchise that found success was “Vaazha.” Directed by Anand Menen, the original, “Vaazha: Biopic of a Billion Boys,” released in 2024 and earned ₹23.46 crore net in India. Its sequel, “Vaazha II: Biopic of a Billion Bros,” was released on April 2, 2026. Directed by Savin S.A. and featuring a young ensemble cast including Hashir, Aradhya Sai, and Vijay Babu, the film reportedly became a major hit, collecting ₹129.42 crore net in India on a budget of just ₹12 crore.

“Aadu 3”: The “Aadu” franchise also witnessed a significant turnaround. The original Malayalam film, released in 2015, reportedly had a budget of ₹3–4 crore but failed to make a strong impression at the box office. Its sequel, “Aadu 2” (2017), made on a budget of ₹5–6 crore, went on to collect approximately ₹25–26 crore net in India. The third installment, “Aadu 3,” directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas and starring Jayasuriya, Vinayakan and Saiju Kurup, was released on March 19, 2026. Made on a reported budget of ₹20 crore, the film earned ₹51.12 crore net in India.

Kannada
“Love Mocktail 3”: The “Love Mocktail” franchise has also maintained its box-office momentum. Directed and co-produced by Darling Krishna, the romantic drama “Love Mocktail,” starring Krishna opposite Milana Nagaraj, released on January 31, 2020. Made on a budget of around ₹2 crore, it earned ₹3.60 crore net in India. The sequel, “Love Mocktail 2” (2022), reunited the lead actors. Made on an estimated budget of ₹2–3 crore, the film reportedly earned ₹13.78 crore net in India. The third installment, “Love Mocktail 3,” with the original cast and crew alongside several new additions, was released on March 19, 2026. Produced on an estimated budget of ₹2 crore, the film collected ₹15 crore net in India, extending the franchise’s successful run.