Editing Mohanlal (section)

===Progression and fluctuations (2016–present)===
In 2016, Mohanlal had four releases, which had a combined gross collection of {{INR}}378&nbsp;crore worldwide, making him fourth (behind [[Aamir Khan]], [[Akshay Kumar]], and [[Salman Khan]]) among the top Indian actors with highest box office receipts in the year, and in top position among [[South India]]n actors.<ref name="top5">{{cite news|last=Nair|first=Sree Prasad|title=2016 Box Office Kings : Mohanlal is the only Malayalam actor among top 5, Aamir Khan tops the list, followed by Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan|url=http://www.catchnews.com/regional-cinema/2016-box-office-kings-mohanlal-is-the-only-malayalam-actor-among-top-5-aamir-khan-tops-the-list-followed-by-akshay-kumar-and-salman-khan-1483966620.html|access-date=12 January 2017|work=Catch News|date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112061634/http://www.catchnews.com/regional-cinema/2016-box-office-kings-mohanlal-is-the-only-malayalam-actor-among-top-5-aamir-khan-tops-the-list-followed-by-akshay-kumar-and-salman-khan-1483966620.html|archive-date=12 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> His first release in the year was the Telugu film ''[[Manamantha]]'', a family drama directed by [[Chandra Sekhar Yeleti]]. His following release was another Telugu film ''[[Janatha Garage]]'', an action drama directed by [[Koratala Siva]]. It became the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2016 and one of the highest-grossing Telugu films,<ref>{{cite news|last=Hooli|first=Shekhar H|title=Janatha Garage 3rd week box office collection: Jr NTR film emerges as the highest grosser of 2016|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/janatha-garage-3rd-week-box-office-collection-jr-ntr-film-emerges-highest-grosser-2016-694855|access-date=26 September 2016|work=[[International Business Times]]|date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926023119/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/janatha-garage-3rd-week-box-office-collection-jr-ntr-film-emerges-highest-grosser-2016-694855|archive-date=26 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> with a gross collection of over {{INR}}135&nbsp;crore worldwide.<ref name="JG">{{cite news|author=DC|title=6 South Indian films that turned out to be game-changers in 2016|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/301216/6-south-indian-films-that-turned-out-to-be-game-changers-in-2016.html|access-date=12 January 2017|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113012015/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/301216/6-south-indian-films-that-turned-out-to-be-game-changers-in-2016.html|archive-date=13 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> His first Malayalam release that year was the crime-thriller ''[[Oppam]]'', directed by [[Priyadarshan]] in which he played a blind man. The film became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nair|first=Sree Prasad|title=Kerala Box Office: Mohanlal's Oppam is now highest grosser of 2016, beats Jacobinte Swargarajyam|url=http://www.catchnews.com/regional-cinema/kerala-box-office-mohanlal-s-oppam-is-now-highest-grosser-of-2016-beats-jacobinte-swargarajyam-1474716416.html|access-date=26 September 2016|work=Catch News|date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927001833/http://www.catchnews.com/regional-cinema/kerala-box-office-mohanlal-s-oppam-is-now-highest-grosser-of-2016-beats-jacobinte-swargarajyam-1474716416.html|archive-date=27 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> It crossed the {{INR}}50&nbsp;crore mark at the box office within one-and-a-half months,<ref>{{cite web|author=Moviebuzz|title=Mohanlal has two 50 crore blockbusters in his kitty!|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/mohanlal-has-two-50-crore-blockbusters-in-his-kitty-news-malayalam-qkssadjifbbdc.html|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=11 November 2016|date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025204019/http://www.sify.com/movies/mohanlal-has-two-50-crore-blockbusters-in-his-kitty-news-malayalam-qkssadjifbbdc.html|archive-date=25 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and grossed over {{INR}}65&nbsp;crore worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nair|first=Sree Prasad|title=After Drishyam, Ajay Devgn to reprise Mohanlal's role in Oppam|url=http://www.catchnews.com/regional-cinema/after-drishyam-ajay-devgn-to-reprise-mohanlal-s-role-in-oppam-1482872134.html|access-date=12 January 2017|work=Catch News|date=28 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114184512/http://www.catchnews.com/regional-cinema/after-drishyam-ajay-devgn-to-reprise-mohanlal-s-role-in-oppam-1482872134.html|archive-date=14 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He acted as a hunter in his following release, the action film ''[[Pulimurugan]]'' (2016). It became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever and is the first Malayalam film to gross over {{INR}}100&nbsp;crore at the box office.<ref>{{cite news|last=Viswanath|first=Chandrakanth|title=Mohanlal's Pulimurugan breaches the Rs 100 crore mark|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2016/nov/07/mohanlals-pulimurugan-breaches-the-rs-100-crore-mark-1536006--2.html|access-date=11 November 2016|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=7 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111194211/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2016/nov/07/mohanlals-pulimurugan-breaches-the-rs-100-crore-mark-1536006--2.html|archive-date=11 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film has so far collected {{INR}}152&nbsp;crore worldwide. The next year, he acted in ''[[Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol]]'' (2016) which grossed 50 crore at the box office''.''<ref name="top5"/> The next film he acted in was ''[[1971: Beyond Borders]]'' (2017) directed by [[Major Ravi]] and was based on the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The next film he acted in was [[Velipadinte Pusthakam|''Velipadinte Pusthakam'']] directed by [[Lal Jose]] in their first colloboration. It was followed by the action thriller ''[[Villain (2017 film)|Villain]]'' directed by [[B. Unnikrishnan]]. Next year he acted in fantasy drama film ''[[Odiyan]]'', directed by [[V. A. Shrikumar Menon]]. The film was written by Harikrishnan and was based on the legend of the [[Odiyan clan|Odiyan]] clan. The next film he acted in was [[Lucifer (2019 Indian film)|''Lucifer'']] directed by [[Prithviraj Sukumaran]] and written by [[Murali Gopy]] which was a box office success.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/lucifer-box-office-mohanlal-film-collects-rs-100-crore-worldwide-5665523/|title=Lucifer box office: Mohanlal film collects Rs 100 crore worldwide|date=8 April 2019|access-date=30 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409131841/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/lucifer-box-office-mohanlal-film-collects-rs-100-crore-worldwide-5665523/|archive-date=9 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> It  earned over ₹200&nbsp;crore, which includes box office collections and the earnings from the sale of its satellite rights, digital streaming rights and TV rights in other languages.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 June 2019|title=Mohanlal's Lucifer storms into Rs 200 crore club, first for Malayalam cinema|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/mohanlal-s-lucifer-storms-into-rs-200-crore-club-first-for-malayalam-cinema/story-vTm7JXaAdz0FWFTllE4n2I.html|access-date=16 July 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=11 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611022057/https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/mohanlal-s-lucifer-storms-into-rs-200-crore-club-first-for-malayalam-cinema/story-vTm7JXaAdz0FWFTllE4n2I.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mohanlal's period drama film ''[[Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham]]'', directed by [[Priyadarshan]] won the Best Feature Film Award in 67th National Award for the year 2019. The film released in 2021, in theatres.<ref>{{cite news|last=Punnoose|first=Aby|date=11 November 2021|title=67th-national-film-awards-marakkar-arabikkadalinte-simham-wins-the-best-feature-film-award|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/67th-national-film-awards-marakkar-arabikkadalinte-simham-wins-the-best-feature-film-award/articleshow/81633289.cms|access-date=11 November 2021|website=Timesofindia|language=en|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111163303/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/67th-national-film-awards-marakkar-arabikkadalinte-simham-wins-the-best-feature-film-award/articleshow/81633289.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> Mohanlal starred in the thriller film ''[[Drishyam 2]]'', directed by [[Jeethu Joseph]], which released in Amazon Prime.<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 February 2021|title=Drishyam 2 trailer: Ghost from the past comes to haunt Mohanlal|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/drishyam-2-trailer-the-ghost-from-the-past-comes-to-haunt-mohanlal-7177482/|access-date=8 February 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227153724/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/drishyam-2-trailer-the-ghost-from-the-past-comes-to-haunt-mohanlal-7177482/|url-status=live}}</ref> He starred in ''[[Aaraattu (2021 film)|Aaraattu]],'' produced and directed by [[B. Unnikrishnan]] and was released in 2022 to a mixed response and low box office returns.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 February 2022|title=Aaraattu Movie Review: A massy entertainer with a so-so story|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/aaraattu/movie-review/89664583.cms|access-date=26 May 2022|website=The Times of India|archive-date=12 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412215516/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/aaraattu/movie-review/89664583.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> His solo role in the 2023 film ''[[Alone (2023 film)|Alone]]'' received negative reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/alone-movie-review-is-mohanlal-in-a-race-to-give-us-the-worst-mohanlal-film-yet-12062912.html |title=Alone movie review: Is Mohanlal in a race to give us the worst Mohanlal film yet? |date=1 June 2023 |accessdate=23 April 2024 |website=firstpost.com}}</ref> Following a cameo in [[Jailer (2023 Tamil film)|''Jailer'']],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gqindia.com/content/jailer-mohanlal-charged-rs-8-crore-find-out-how-many-crores-rajinikanth-tamannaah-bhatia-and-others-charged |title=Jailer: Mohanlal charged Rs 8 Crore; find out how many Crores Rajinikanth, Tamannaah Bhatia & others charged |website=[[GQ India]] |date=10 August 2023 |accessdate=23 April 2024}}</ref> he starred in [[Neru (film)|''Neru'']], released in late 2023, and the period drama film ''[[Malaikottai Vaaliban]]'', which was released in early 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-24 |title=Malaikottai Vaaliban: All you need to know about Mohanlal's grand Malayalam film |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/malaikottai-vaaliban-all-you-need-to-know-about-mohanlals-grand-malayalam-film-101706100574093.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> He made his first directorial debut with ''[[Barroz 3D]]'', which released in late 2024 to mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-08 |title=Barroz Lifetime Kerala Box Office: Mohanlal's fantasy movie to end its run grossing ONLY Rs 11 crore in the state |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/box-office/barroz-lifetime-kerala-box-office-mohanlals-fantasy-movie-to-end-its-run-grossing-only-rs-11-crore-in-the-state-1366314 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=PINKVILLA |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025, he reunited with Prithviraj Sukumaran for the sequel of ''Lucifer'', ''[[L2: Empuraan]]''. Though it opened to mixed-to-positive reviews, it became a commercial success, grossing over {{INR}}265 crore worldwide, becoming [[List of highest-grossing Malayalam films|the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all-time]] and the highest-grosser of his career.<ref>{{Cite web |title= L2: Empuraan Box Office Collection Day 30: Mohanlal's Magnum Opus Earns Only 1 Lakh On Its 5th Friday! |url= https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/l2-empuraan-box-office-collection-day-30-mohanlals-magnum-opus-earns-only-1-lakh-on-its-5th-friday/ |date= 26 April 2025 |website= Koimoi.com |language= en}}</ref> A month after the release of ''L2: Empuraan'', his second release of the year, ''[[Thudarum]]'', released to positive reviews from the critics.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Fans hail 'Thudarum' as Mohanlal's return to form, tickets selling out fast |url= https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/25/thudarum-movie-audience-reaction-mohanlal-tharun-moorthy.amp.html |website= Onmanorama |language= en}}</ref>