August 15, 2025 – Superstar Rajinikanth’s Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has stormed the box office with a historic opening, grossing an estimated ₹130–150 crore worldwide on its first day, according to early reports from authentic sources. The gangster action drama, marking Rajinikanth’s 171st film and his 50th year in cinema, has set a new benchmark for Tamil films, though it faces stiff competition from Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR’s War 2. Despite mixed reviews, Coolie’s phenomenal advance bookings and fan frenzy have propelled it to a record-breaking debut, particularly in South India.A Thunderous StartAccording to trade tracker Sacnilk, Coolie amassed ₹38.97–65 crore net in India by the evening of August 14, with final estimates projecting a domestic net collection of around ₹50–65 crore for Day 1. Globally, the film’s gross is reported to have reached ₹130–150 crore, driven by a staggering ₹75 crore from overseas markets. Tamil Nadu led the charge with ₹28–30 crore, followed by Andhra Pradesh/Telangana (₹16–18 crore), Karnataka (₹14–15 crore), and Kerala (₹10 crore). The Hindi market contributed a modest ₹2 crore, reflecting lower occupancy in North India.The film’s Tamil version recorded an impressive 83.54% occupancy, with morning shows at 81.95% and afternoon shows at 85.13%. Telugu screenings were even stronger, with 91.09% occupancy across 1,100 shows, while Hindi shows lagged at 25–31%. Cities like Trichy, Chennai, Pondicherry, and Coimbatore reported near-full houses, with occupancies as high as 97–99%. Bengaluru’s 903 screens saw a 91% turnout, cementing Coolie’s dominance in the South.In North America, Coolie set an all-time record for a Tamil film, grossing over $3.6 million (₹30 crore) on its opening day, including a record-breaking $3.04 million from premieres alone. Posts on X celebrated this feat, with one user noting, “#Coolie North America Day 1 Gross: $3.6M+, ALL TIME RECORD OPENING for Kollywood.”Outshining War 2Coolie faced a high-profile clash with War 2, but early figures show it surging ahead. While Coolie netted ₹38.97 crore in India by 5 PM, War 2 trailed at ₹24.99 crore during the same period. Globally, War 2’s Day 1 gross is estimated at ₹52.5 crore, significantly lower than Coolie’s ₹130–150 crore. In Australia, Coolie sold 1,047 tickets for AUD 11,796, dwarfing War 2’s paltry four tickets and AUD 108 across 16 shows. This stark contrast has fueled discussions on X, with users calling Coolie’s performance a “massacre” over its Bollywood rival.