Box Office: Coolie Is Miles Ahead Of War2

As we had been extensive reporting over the last few days, the Indian cinema witnessed two big films in the form of Coolie and War 2 this weekend. Incidentally, both the films released in the theatres on August 14, and here is a look at the kind of box office performance that they could put up.

In India, Coolie collected around ₹65 crore on its first day, making it one of Rajinikanth’s biggest openings ever. The film performed strongly in both Tamil and Hindi markets, and even in Telugu-speaking states where it competed directly with War 2.

War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani, managed a solid ₹52.5 crore opening, but it was still behind Coolie in total numbers. Despite strong performances from Hrithik and Jr NTR, the film couldn’t match the hype and crowd pull of Rajinikanth’s comeback in a mass entertainer.

The trend was similar in North America, where Telugu audiences had to choose between Jr NTR’s War 2 and Rajinikanth’s Coolie. Surprisingly, Coolie had better box office numbers in most Telugu community screenings. Industry trackers say Rajinikanth’s massive fan base, the movie’s strong pre-release buzz, and the appeal of its action-packed trailer helped it win the overseas market as well.

Overall, Coolie has taken a clear lead in this high-profile box office battle, leaving War 2 chasing from behind.