Jolly LLB 3 Advance Booking & Early Reviews: ₹6 Cr Start

New Delhi, September 19: The third chapter of Bollywood’s unlikely courtroom franchise, “Jolly LLB 3,” opened in theaters today. The buildup has been loud, with two stars in the dock, a loyal fan base from the first two films, and a stack of legal petitions trying to stop it from releasing. Whether it can actually hold the floor is now the question.

Crowds At The Door

Early signs suggest people are showing up. According to The Times of India, advance bookings pushed past ₹6 crore before the first shows even rolled out. That’s over one lakh tickets sold in advance. Financial Express places day-one net collections around ₹5.91 crore, with industry trackers hedging that strong word of mouth could nudge the figure closer to ₹10 crore by the time Friday’s done.

It’s not a record-breaking start, but it’s healthy, especially for a courtroom satire in a market that has been favoring high-octane action and glossy spectacle. The Jolly franchise, though, has always been an underdog success story. The first film back in 2013 was small, scrappy, and unexpectedly sharp. The sequel, with Akshay Kumar stepping in, blew it open commercially. This third outing, pairing Kumar with the original Jolly, Arshad Warsi, is an experiment in itself.

A Split Jury On Reviews

The reaction so far is all over the place. Fans walking out of morning shows told Indiatimes they loved the humor and thought the satire hit its mark. Social media is buzzing with praise for the courtroom banter, and more than a few viewers have called it a “return to form” for Akshay Kumar.

Critics, however, are not lining up in agreement. The Indian Express’s Shubhra Gupta dismissed it as the weakest entry in the series, handing it just 2 out of 5 stars. She argued the film takes easy swings at the establishment without digging deeper, leaving the courtroom less fiery than it should be.

Then there’s NDTV, which flipped the spotlight away from the stars altogether. Their review calls Saurabh Shukla, the franchise’s resident judge, the real show-stealer. “A masterclass,” they wrote, suggesting it’s his gravitas and comic timing that stop the film from wobbling off its tracks.

This gap between critic columns and audience chatter is familiar territory. Both earlier Jolly films took a while to win hearts. Word of mouth made them linger in theaters long after the opening weekend. The makers will be hoping for history to repeat itself.

Legal Hurdles Cleared Just In Time

Of course, no Jolly film comes without some drama outside the courtroom too. Ahead of release, several petitions claimed the movie was mocking judges and lawyers. All were tossed out, clearing the runway for today’s premiere.

The Central Board of Film Certification gave it a U/A certificate, but with a 16+ advisory. That is a relatively new move meant to guide parents more clearly. A few edits were reportedly made, though nothing that clipped the satirical edge entirely.

That tug of war between art poking fun at authority and the system bristling back is exactly what keeps the Jolly franchise relevant. Each film has flirted with the line, and Jolly LLB 3 seems no exception.

Why This Release Matters For Akshay Kumar

For Akshay Kumar, this isn’t just another release. His recent years have been rocky. Big projects like Samrat Prithviraj sank, smaller ones like OMG 2 found unexpected life. He’s still among Bollywood’s busiest stars, but the label of “hit machine” has slipped.

This film gives him something he hasn’t had in a while: a strong ensemble and a script with built-in recall value. Add in Arshad Warsi, who originated the Jolly character, and there’s genuine curiosity around how the two spar. For Warsi himself, this is a rare theatrical big-ticket outing after years of being more visible on OTT platforms. His return to the franchise feels almost poetic.

The Long Game: Beyond Friday

Even before box office numbers settle, producers are looking at the digital safety net. As reported by OTTPlay, the film will stream on Netflix and JioHotstar starting November 14, 2025. That’s the now-standard 60-day gap, enough time to let theaters cash in while lining up a second wave of viewers online.

The streaming window will matter, but for now the mood depends on how crowded theaters get this weekend. The first test is simple: can a courtroom comedy pull in audiences when slick action spectacles and mythological epics are queuing up for the festive season?

The Verdict (So Far)

It’s early, but here’s what we know: the film’s booking numbers are solid, the audience response tilts positive, critics are divided, and the CBFC has let it through with only minor cuts. That’s a better-than-average opening report card in Bollywood today.

The larger question, whether Jolly LLB 3 becomes a genuine hit or just another passable entry in a beloved franchise, will play out in the coming weeks. For now, the courtroom is in session, and the audience is acting as the jury.

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Ayesha Khan

Entertainment Correspondent – Ayesha@hindustanherald.in – Web

Covers films, television, streaming, and celebrity culture with a focus on storytelling trends.

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