Mastiii 4, the latest chapter in the raunchy comedy franchise, just hit theaters and, honestly, it’s off to a slow start. Still, it’s somehow managing to outpace its main competition, 120 Bahadur, in many towns outside the big city multiplexes.

This one’s a reunion for Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, and Aftab Shivdasani – the original trio that made the series a hit with its wild humor. But just bringing the gang back wasn’t enough. Advance bookings barely budged, and opening day earning is in the ₹2.5 crore range. That’s not great. Sure, trade analysts expected it to do okay since it didn’t cost much to make. But even those modest hopes are slipping as ticket sales drag.

After the dud that was Great Grand Masti, nobody knew if the franchise would ever come back. The earlier movies did well with single-screen audiences, but those screens are disappearing fast. This time, Mastiii 4 is struggling to find its crowd. Day one? Just about ₹2.5 crore. It’s something, but not much.

Across the aisle, you’ve got 120 Bahadur, a patriotic war drama with Farhan Akhtar leading the charge. It’s not lighting up the box office either. Early estimates put its debut at just ₹2 crore. Big promos, big story, but people just aren’t rushing to buy tickets.

So, why’s Mastiii 4 holding on at all? Its core audience still loves a loud, silly comedy, especially in smaller towns where single-screen theaters hang on. Out in the non-metro areas, it’s pulling ahead of 120 Bahadur. Spot bookings and word-of-mouth are going to matter a ton as the weekend goes on.

Ask critics and audiences, and you’ll get mixed answers. Some are happy it’s a goofy throwback; others say it’s stuck in the past and just not funny anymore.

Let’s be real: this isn’t a smash hit launch. Mastiii 4 hoped its smaller budget would protect it, but those weak opening numbers raise the stakes for the days ahead. It needs single-screen fans to show up in force this weekend if it wants to survive.

120 Bahadur, aiming higher, isn’t doing much better. Both films are fighting an uphill battle now. Can Mastiii 4 ride its nostalgia and keep seats filled? Or will 120 Bahadur’s emotional edge help it sneak ahead later? The next few days will tell.