The film has grossed Rs 315 crore ($70 million)[citation needed] worldwide within 18 days of release, setting a record for the industry. It is “the highest grossing Indian film ever to release in the US, Middle East, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Kenya and Fiji”, making it the alltime highest grossing Indian film in overseas markets.In the United States, it has earned $6.1m million since its opening. It is also the all-time highest grossing film in India itself, where it has earned Rs. 176crore to date, surpassing the previous record set by the 1975 film Sholay.
3 Idiots received generally positive reviews. Subhash K. Jha (film critic and author of The Essential Guide to Bollywood)states: “It’s not that 3 Idiots is a flawless work of art. But it is a vital, inspiring and life-revising work of contemporary art with some heart imbued into every part. In a country where students are driven to suicide by their impossible curriculum, 3 Idiots provides hope. Maybe cinema can’t save lives. But cinema, sure as hell, can make you feel life is worth living. 3 Idiots does just that, and much more. The director takes the definition of entertainment into directions of social commentwithout assuming that he knows best.”
Nikhat Kazmi of the Times of India gave it four and a half stars and suggests that, “The film is a laugh riot, despite being
high on fundas [...] Hirani carries forward his simplistic `humanism alone works’philosophy of the Lage Raho Munna Bhai series in 3 Idiots too, making it a warmand vivacious signature tune to 2009. The second half of the film does falter in parts, specially the child birth sequence, but it doesn’t take long for the film to jump back on track.”
Mayank Shekhar of the Hindustan Times gave the film three and a half out of four stars and comments that this “this is the sort of movie you’ll take home with a smile and a song on your lips.”
