Rajinikanth's latest film, "Coolie," has stormed the box office, achieving record-breaking success in its first three days. The film has become the fastest Tamil movie to earn ₹300 crore worldwide, surpassing previous records set by other major films.
Box Office Domination
"Coolie" has demonstrated remarkable performance both in India and abroad. By the end of its third day, early estimates indicated that the movie had earned ₹38.5 crore net in India on Saturday, bringing the total India net collection to an impressive ₹158.25 crore. Worldwide collections have already crossed the ₹320-325 crore mark, establishing it as the fastest Tamil film to reach this milestone. According to trade analyst Sumit Kadel, the film is well on its way to achieving blockbuster status.
The film's performance has not been limited to India. "Coolie" has also seen phenomenal success in international markets. It set a new record in France by selling 8,800 tickets on its opening day, surpassing Vijay's "Leo," which had sold 8,500 tickets. The film is also performing well in Singapore, the UAE, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and North America. The filmmakers announced that "Coolie" became the first Tamil film to cross $1M+ gross in Australia & New Zealand and had the highest overseas Day 1 gross for a Tamil film with $8.75M+ earnings.
Records Broken
"Coolie" has shattered several records in its opening weekend. It has surpassed the lifetime earnings of Rajinikanth's previous film, "Vettaiyan," which had collected ₹146.89 crore. The film has also outperformed Ajith's "Good Bad Ugly" (₹180 crore) and Mohanlal–Prithviraj Sukumaran’s "L2: Empuraan" (₹265 crore global haul). In just two days, "Coolie" surpassed the lifetime collections of Ajith’s "Vidaamuyarchi" (₹138 crore) and "Good Bad Ugly" (₹248 crore), becoming the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year. The movie has also beaten the lifetime box office collections of some major Bollywood hits like "Sitaare Zameen Par" (₹263 crore) and "Housefull 5" (₹288 crore).
Cast and Crew
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, "Coolie" boasts a star-studded cast, including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni as the antagonist, and a special appearance by Aamir Khan. The film also features prominent actors like Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj.
Nagarjuna praised the "Coolie" team following its record-breaking opening, calling the film’s worldwide response "nothing short of historic". He lauded the film for achieving the best-ever opening for a Tamil film after it raked in over ₹250 crore in just two days.
Critical Reception
Despite its box office success, "Coolie" has received mixed reviews from critics. Some have praised Rajinikanth's performance, Anirudh Ravichander's music, and the action sequences. Rajinikanth's charisma, screen presence, and ability to connect with audiences across cultures have been highlighted as significant strengths. However, some critics have pointed out that the film is uneven, with a confusing plot, and that it lacks the cohesion and emotional core of Lokesh Kanagaraj's previous films.
Future Outlook
Despite middling reviews and polarized word of mouth, "Coolie" has maintained strong momentum at the box office. Trade experts suggest that the film is now eyeing the ₹600 crore club, a milestone reached by only three other Tamil films: "2.0," "Jailer," and "Leo".
