One of the year’s most awaited blockbusters, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, is all set to hit theatres on 14 August. The ensemble action drama, led by Rajinikanth, is creating waves in the box office circuit with its pre-sales, crossing the ₹100 crore mark for the opening weekend. Even with a massive clash against War 2, the buzz has only grown stronger.
₹100 crore weekend, record-breaking ticket sales
As per trade tracker Sacnilk, by 11 AM, Coolie had already sold 12,46,828 tickets across India, raking in a gross of ₹27.01 crore for Day 1 alone. The lion’s share comes from Tamil audiences, with over 10 lakh tickets sold in the language, followed by strong Telugu sales.
Regional earnings so far include ₹11.97 crore in Tamil Nadu, ₹1.46 crore in Andhra Pradesh, ₹1.69 crore in Telangana, and ₹6.85 crore in Karnataka. The film has already clocked ₹50 crore in India for the opening weekend, while overseas pre-sales contribute another ₹60 crore — with ₹45 crore from the opening day itself. That means Coolie has already crossed ₹110 crore for the weekend, with ₹80 crore attributed to Day 1 alone. And the final numbers are still climbing.
Shattering international records
In the US, Coolie has made history as the first Tamil film to cross $2 million in premiere pre-sales. Now, all eyes are on whether Rajinikanth’s opening can surpass the record set by Lokesh’s previous outing, Leo with Vijay, which earned ₹142.70 crore worldwide on its opening day — the current benchmark for Tamil cinema.
About the film
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie boasts a stellar lineup featuring Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Aamir Khan. While the plot remains tightly under wraps, the British Board of Film Classification describes it as: “A mysterious man takes a stand against a corrupt syndicate exploiting and abusing the workers of a port town in this action drama.”