Coolie Day 1 Box Office Collection, Review: Rajinikanth’s Film Beats Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR’s War 2

Coolie, the latest blockbuster starring the legendary Rajinikanth, roared into theatres on Thursday with an impressive Rs 38.97 crore net collection in India by 5 PM, according to trade website reports. By comparison, its marquee rival, War 2, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, managed Rs 24.99 crore in the same time frame.

Coolie VS War 2 Box Office Collection Day 1

According to the trade website, Coolie earned Rs 38.97 crore net in India by 5 PM on first day on August 14, while War 2 collected Rs 24.99 crore during the same timeframe. The film, released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, performed exceptionally well in South India, registering 81.95% occupancy in Tamil, 91.25% in Telugu and 25.34% in Hindi as of the time of reporting.

Cities like Pondicherry, Salem and Warangal achieved an impressive 99% occupancy, while Chennai, Coimbatore and Hyderabad recorded 97%.

Joining forces to compete with Rajinikanth's Coolie are Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR with War 2. In fact, War 2's advance-booking collection equalled Coolie's Day 1 box office gross.

Coolie Released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi: Check Day 1 All‑Language Box Office Collection

On its opening day on Thursday, Coolie registered a net collection of Rs 38.97 crore across India, according to the Sachnilk report. In terms of occupancy for the 2D versions, the Tamil shows saw strong attendance, with morning occupancy at 81.95% and afternoon occupancy reaching 85.13%.

The Hindi screenings, while comparatively lower, still drew audiences-morning shows witnessed 25.34% occupancy, and the afternoon shows rose to 31.50%. Meanwhile, Telugu viewers turned out in even greater numbers: morning show occupancy stood at 91.25%, climbing further to 93.01% in the afternoon.

Kannada screenings recorded lesser but still notable footfalls, with morning occupancy at 58.46% and afternoon occupancy improving to 72.58%.

Rajinikanth Starrer Coolie Movie Review: IMDb Rating & Audience Reaction

On IMDb, Coolie is receiving a "blockbuster" rating, with fans pouring in their admiration. One user commented, "The Thalaivar magic is unstoppable. Rajinikanth reminds the world why he's the one and only Superstar. Lokesh delivered an absolute masterpiece."

Some viewers called it the "weakest Lokesh movie," citing a "stretched second half." Comparisons with Lokesh's previous films like Leo noted the presence of "thrilling Rajinified moments."

Rajinikanth Marks 50 Years in Cinema

As Coolie hit the screens, Rajinikanth celebrated 50 years in the film industry on 15 August. The milestone drew tributes from celebrities such as Kamal Haasan, Hrithik Roshan, Sivakarthikeyan, Udhayanidhi Stalin, Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Nani.

Coolie Star Cast & Production

Coolie features a stellar cast including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Upendra, and Aamir Khan in key roles. The film is produced by Sun Pictures, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander.