India, June 26 -- Welcome to the Jungle, which marks actor Akshay Kumar's return to the franchise and the third instalment in the comedy film series, has opened to rave reviews online by early audiences, who caught the special screenings and first day shows. Netizens have called the Ahmed Khan directorial a "laugh riot" and "paisa vasool", while trade analysts have a positive feeling about how the multi-starrer will translate into footfall, eyeing an opening day of roughly Rs.20 crores.

Calling the film the "need of the hour" which caters to a huge audience beyond the metro, trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, "It's like a 1980s masala film, a fun ride which caters to a huge audience. Bollywood has stopped making those kinds of films. There...