Digital News Guru Entertainment Desk:
The much-anticipated cinematic confrontation between two major Independence Day releases—Rajinikanth’s Coolie and the Hrithik Roshan–Jr NTR action thriller War 2—has tilted clearly in favor of the Tamil superstar. In the weeks following their simultaneous August 14 releases, Coolie has surged ahead both domestically and globally, marking a notable triumph in Indian cinema’s box office battles.
Coolie Continues to Hold the Edge Over War 2 at Indian Box Office
- Day 11: Coolie surged past the mighty Rs 250 crore mark in India, chalking up approximately Rs 10.75 crore in single-day earnings and pushing its cumulative haul to Rs 256.75 crore. In contrast, War 2 amassed Rs 6.50 crore on the same day, bringing its 11-day total to Rs 221 crore.
- Day 12: Coolie continued its steady climb—it reached Rs 260.35 crore domestically, along with an impressive worldwide total of Rs 482.5 crore. Meanwhile, War 2 saw diminishing returns, trailing further behind.
- Day 13: Even as daily collections softened, Coolie maintained its lead—its domestic total crossed Rs 263 crore, compared to War 2’s Rs 226 crore.
- Day 14: The lead widened further—Coolie stood at Rs 267.54 crore against War 2’s Rs 228.7 crore.
In summary, by the start of its third week, Coolie had not only outpaced War 2 in cumulative earnings but had done so by a gap of nearly Rs 40 crore.
What Gave Coolie the Edge
- Massive Pre-Release Buzz
With Rs 100 crore in advance bookings, Coolie was primed for a record-shattering opening. Fans—and even companies—joined in the anticipation spree, with some in Singapore granting paid holidays for employees eager to watch the film. - Pan-Indian Reach
Released across Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada markets, Coolie maximized its audience scope. Its Hindi-dubbed version alone reached over Rs 32 crore net in India within 12 days—becoming Kollywood’s second-highest grossing film in Hindi. - Rajinikanth’s Undiminished Star Power
Even amid festival distractions like Ganesh Chaturthi, Coolie displayed better staying power. On Day 13, it earned ~Rs 3.25 crore despite wider box office slowdowns. - Audience Preference & Occupancy
On the second Sunday (Day 11), Coolie recorded about 96.8K ticket sales, substantially higher than War 2’s 57.8K—evidencing stronger demand and stability despite competition. - Global Reach
While both films crossed the Rs 800 crore mark worldwide collectively, Coolie emerged as the dominant performer internationally as well. - Mixed Reviews for War 2
Though War 2 broke several opening records—Rs 52 crore in India on the first day and Rs 84 crore globally—it received lukewarm reviews and did not sustain momentum beyond its first week.
A Narrative of Divergent Trajectories
Both films leveraged the Independence Day window, but Coolie‘s narrative arc was smoother and more consistent. Its strong opening, coupled with broader regional appeal and Rajinikanth’s enduring charm, set the tone—while War 2 faced diminishing returns despite a powerful ensemble and high expectations.
By the close of the two-week mark, Coolie emerged not just ahead in numbers but in narrative—becoming the talk of the box office, while War 2’s early dominance proved ephemeral.
Summary Table
| Day | Coolie (crore) | War 2 (crore) | Highlights |
| Day 10 | ~250 (cumulative) | — | Coolie maintains strong lead |
| Day 12 | ~260 | ~224.5 | Slower weekday, but lead persists |
| Day 13 | ~263 | ~226 | Coolie still ahead despite slowing momentum |
| Day 14 | ~267.5 | ~228.7 | Coolie steadily marching toward Rs 270 crore |
Bottom Line: Rajinikanth’s Coolie leaps ahead of War 2 at the Indian box office
Despite stiff competition and shared release timing, Rajinikanth’s Coolie continues to outperform Hrithik Roshan–Jr NTR’s War 2 at India’s box office. While Coolie remains strong with its pan-Indian reach and massive appeal, War 2 is seeing a steeper decline post its opening week.
Coolie continues to inch toward Rs 270 crore in India, while War 2 gradually builds its overseas footprint. For Rajinikanth, this victory enhances his legacy in pan-Indian cinema. For War 2, a recalibration of content strategy may be needed as audience expectations evolve.
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