On August 14, Rajinikanth's most recent film, Coolie, which was directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, debuted in theatres around the world with a banging start.
The Tamil-language spectacle, boasting a powerhouse ensemble that includes Sathyaraj, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Aamir Khan, and Shruti Haasan, has been pitted directly against Bollywood heavyweight War 2, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. Yet, according to trade trackers, Coolie appears to have taken the lead in this high-profile clash.
Coolie started to exceed expectations as soon as advance reservations opened, and demand increased daily. Industry analysts are describing the culmination of the momentum as an unprecedented opening for a Tamil film.
The numbers are equally impressive at home. According to early estimates, Coolie made about ₹65 crore India net in all languages on its first day of release, according to data from a major trade portal. On Thursday, August 14, the Tamil version of the movie had an impressive overall occupancy rate of 86.99%.
Breaking it down, the Tamil (2D) occupancy numbers paint a clear picture of its dominance:
Morning shows saw an impressive 81.95% turnout.
Afternoon shows rose to 85.13%.
Evening screenings drew 86.57%.
Night shows peaked with a remarkable 94.32%.
Even in the Hindi (2D) belt — traditionally a more challenging market for Tamil films — Coolie made noticeable inroads:
Morning occupancy was 25.34%.
Afternoon reached 31.50%.
Evening screenings held at 30.63%.
Night shows surged to 55.18%.
According to early global estimates, the movie made an incredible ₹150 crore on its first day, which is a significant milestone for the local film industry.
With the Independence Day weekend in full swing, trade sites are predicting nothing short of a box-office rampage, both within India and in overseas territories.
Also Read: Did you know Aamir Khan and Rajinikanth worked together before Coolie in 1995? Watch viral scene
Beyond the numbers, Coolie has profited from its all-star cast and Lokesh Kanagaraj's distinctive fusion of tightly-woven storylines and mass entertainment. It seems that Rajinikanth's timeless charm and an excellent ensemble have produced the ideal festival release. The movie might be on track to break records for Tamil cinema and possibly redefine its place in the world if these early trends hold true.
Coolie has left a lasting impression, with crowds filling theatres and social media ablaze, and the weekend is just getting started.
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