The superstar has shown no signs of slowing down. With Coolie, Rajinikanth has once again taken over theatres across the world, delivering a storm at the box office that few could have predicted.
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film has turned into more than just a release – it’s an event.
What records has Coolie broken already?
Day one itself set the tone. The film opened to a staggering Rs 151 crore worldwide gross, a figure no Tamil film had ever touched before. It smashed past Lokesh’s previous outing Leo, which stood at Rs 143 crore. In the larger Indian context, too, no 2025 film has been able to match this debut. The earlier benchmark was Ram Charan’s Game Changer at Rs 80 crore, while War 2 with Jr NTR and Hrithik Roshan could only tie that number.
Where does it stand among Indian originals?
When you look at all-time openings by original Indian films (excluding sequels), only three names sit higher than Coolie: RRR with Rs 223 crore, Kalki 2898 AD with Rs 178 crore, and Salaar with Rs 158 crore. Every other bigger opener has relied on sequels, which makes Coolie’s entry even more remarkable.
How fast did it race past Rs 100 crore?
In India, the film crossed the Rs 100-crore net mark in just two days – something no Tamil film had done before. Rajinikanth’s own 2.0 and Vijay’s Leo took three days to reach the same milestone. Globally, in only 48 hours, Coolie collected over Rs 250 crore, already outshining Ajith Kumar’s Good Bad Ugly, which wrapped up at Rs 248 crore.
Yes. Coolie’s momentum began long before the first show. The film made headlines by clocking Rs 109 crore in pre-release ticket sales, the highest ever for a Tamil film. This massive demand was a clear sign of the storm that would follow.
How big could it get?
At its current pace, Coolie is galloping towards Rs 300 crore worldwide and Rs 200 crore in India. If it continues like this, it may even outpace Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan. In fact, among Indian films, only giants like Pushpa 2: The Rule, RRR, Baahubali 2, KGF Chapter 2, Kalki 2898 AD, and Jawan have raced faster.
Coolie: Starcast
Beyond Rajinikanth’s towering presence, the film boasts a large ensemble. It features Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, and Upendra, while Aamir Khan steps in for a cameo that adds further weight to the spectacle.
Coolie is not just another Rajinikanth film. It is a reminder of his unmatched pull across generations and geographies. At 74, he isn’t merely acting; he’s redefining the very meaning of box office power.