Rajinikanth's latest movie, "Coolie," directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has taken the box office by storm. Released on August 14, 2025, the film is already making waves, with predictions of crossing ₹100 crore in India within the first two days.
Opening Day Performance
"Coolie" has indeed had a monumental opening day. Initial estimates suggest the film grossed approximately ₹65 crore in India on its first day. This marks one of the biggest openings ever for a Tamil film. The film's performance across different regions is noteworthy. In Tamil Nadu, "Coolie" dominated with an estimated ₹28-30 crore gross, making it one of the highest day-one figures ever recorded in the state. The movie also performed well in Andhra Pradesh/Telangana (₹16-18 crore gross), Karnataka (₹14-15 crore gross), and Kerala (approximately ₹10 crore gross). Even in the Hindi-speaking regions, "Coolie" made a strong impact, earning an estimated ₹7-8 crore gross.
The film's global opening day gross is estimated to be around ₹140 crore, with overseas collections contributing approximately ₹75 crore. Some reports even suggest the worldwide collection reached ₹170 crore. The film has also surpassed $3 million mark on day 1 collections in North America, and it's the fastest Tamil film to achieve the mark.
Occupancy Rates
The film has recorded impressive theatre occupancy rates. In Tamil Nadu, "Coolie" enjoyed an overall occupancy of 86.99% on its opening day. Telugu markets showed even greater enthusiasm, with an extraordinary 92.10% occupancy overall. Even in the Hindi belt, the film, titled "Coolie: The Powerhouse," recorded a respectable 35.66% occupancy.
Comparisons and Records
"Coolie" has not only performed well but has also broken records and surpassed expectations. It has become Rajinikanth's biggest domestic opening day film of his career. In Tamil Nadu, "Coolie" has overtaken Thalapathy Vijay's "Leo" in day 2 pre-sales, a significant achievement. However, "Coolie" couldn't surpass "Leo" opening day collection of ₹76.2 crore.
Reviews and Audience Reception
The audience reception to "Coolie" appears to be largely positive, with many praising Rajinikanth's commanding screen presence and Lokesh Kanagaraj's direction. However, some reviews have been mixed, with some viewers feeling that the first half of the film is disjointed. Some have pointed out that certain cameos, while exciting on paper, don't necessarily add value to the film. Despite mixed reviews, many fans and general audiences find "Coolie" enjoyable, highlighting the strong performances and engaging moments.
Future Projections
Given the strong opening day numbers and the continued advance bookings, "Coolie" is expected to have a successful extended opening weekend. With the current momentum, it seems likely that the film will cross the ₹100 crore mark in India within its first two days.
Rajinikanth has several upcoming movies after Coolie, including "Jailer 2" and "Vettaiyan".
