Coolie Dominates Advance Bookings—War 2 Chases Close Behind
August 13, 2025 — The battle lines are drawn at India’s box office as Rajinikanth’s Coolie and the espionage-packed War 2 gear up for an explosive clash. Let’s dive into the latest pre-sales numbers setting the stage:
Coolie: An Unstoppable Advance Booking Juggernaut
- Coolie has pulled in a staggering ₹27.01 crore in pre-sales, with 12.24 lakh tickets sold across India.
- In Tamil Nadu alone, the film garnered ₹22.81 crore, followed by ₹3.38 crore in Telugu regions and nearly ₹0.76 crore from Hindi markets.
- Global demand is equally impressive: Coolie has already minted ₹27 crore-plus overseas, including a record-making $2 million in North America—marking a first for Tamil cinema.
- Trade experts peg total global pre-sales for Coolie at a phenomenal ₹50–60 crore, with projections hinting at ₹100 crore before the release.
War 2: Solid Numbers Amid Tough Competition
- War 2 has recorded ₹9.8 crore in early advance bookings, with 3.46 lakh tickets sold across various regions.
- Hindi-speaking markets have shown strong interest, with ₹6.5 crore in pre-sales, while Telugu regions contributed ₹3.64 crore.
- Industry insiders forecast that the film could rake in ₹20 crore+ in bookings on the first day alone.
Clash Overview
| Film | Domestic Pre‑Sales | Overseas Advance Sales | Total Early Traction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coolie | ₹27.01 crore (12.24 lakh tickets) | ₹27+ crore (incl. $2M in NA) | ₹50–60 crore total pre‑sales |
| War 2 | ₹9.8 crore (3.46 lakh tickets) | Modest traction | Strong but behind |
Industry Perspective
Trade experts such as Ramesh Bala suggest Coolie may have crossed ₹80 crore in worldwide advance bookings, dwarfing War 2‘s ₹10–15 crore range.
This head-to-head underscores a major North vs South and Bollywood vs Kollywood showdown, with both films covering a wide swath of India and international markets.
Coolie’s ensemble cast—including Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, and others—commands a massive pull, giving it a pre-release edge.
Yet War 2, part of YRF’s established Spy Universe, brings its own expectations and franchise strength, especially in the Hindi belt.
What to Expect on Opening Weekend
- With Independence Day falling on a Friday, both films could see multi-day openings exceeding ₹100 crore domestically if buoyed by strong word-of-mouth.
- Regional dominance is already clear: Coolie leads in the South and abroad, while War 2 is expected to shine in North India
