Coolie Vs War 2
The 2025 Independence Day weekend is turning into one of the biggest cinematic showdowns in recent years. Two highly anticipated films—Rajinikanth’s Coolie and Hrithik Roshan & Jr. NTR’s War 2—are clashing head-to-head for box office supremacy. With advance ticket bookings in full swing, early trends reveal a fascinating story, and it looks like the Thalaivar might be leading the charge.
Coolie’s Record-Smashing Advance Bookings
Rajinikanth’s 171st film, Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is proving to be an unstoppable force. Industry tracker Sacnilk reports that the film has already raked in an incredible ₹26.28 crore from pre-sales in India for its opening day alone.
Tickets Sold (India): ~6 lakh across Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada
Estimated with Block Seats: ₹50 crore
Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj (Leo, Vikram)
Cast Highlights: Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Upendra, cameo by Aamir Khan
The global craze is equally jaw-dropping. In North America, Coolie has crossed the $2 million mark in premiere pre-sales—already surpassing the lifetime overseas earnings of several major Indian films. This performance could break the all-time Tamil film advance booking record, currently held by Leo.
Lokesh Kanagaraj’s brand, combined with Rajinikanth’s unmatched star power, has created a perfect storm of anticipation. The mix of a pan-India cast, slick action, and a stylish presentation is making Coolie a must-watch event not just in India, but worldwide.
War 2’s Strong but Slower Start
On the other side of the battlefield, War 2, a major chapter in the YRF Spy Universe, is seeing respectable but comparatively modest pre-sales.
Advance Booking (India): ₹8.67 crore for opening day
Tickets Sold: ~1.2 lakh across Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu
Block Booking Value: ₹5.72 crore
The film boasts an explosive pairing of Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, two of India’s most bankable stars. However, Telugu markets—where Jr. NTR is a massive crowd-puller—have yet to open advance bookings at full capacity. Once that happens, numbers are expected to surge.
Despite the slower initial response compared to Coolie, War 2 has massive infrastructure advantages:
Biggest Hindi Release Ever: 5,000 screens for Hindi version alone
Screen Dominance: 90% of single screens, 80–85% multiplex screens in Hindi belt
Premium Formats: IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Cinema
While its advance bookings trail behind Coolie, the holiday weekend boost and word-of-mouth could help War 2 close the gap quickly. Trade experts still predict an opening day between ₹50–55 crore, provided strong audience reception.
Different Strategies, Different Strengths
The contrast between the two films is striking:
Coolie is fueled by Rajinikanth’s superstar status, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s proven action thrillers, and a pan-India + overseas pull.
War 2 relies on the YRF Spy Universe hype, the charisma of Hrithik and Jr. NTR, and Hindi belt dominance.
While Coolie is already breaking advance booking records, War 2 is playing the long game, aiming for sustained momentum across the extended holiday.
Why This Clash Is Historic?
Independence Day weekend in India has always been a lucrative window for big films, but 2025’s clash is special:
Two Generations of Stardom – Rajinikanth, the evergreen icon, versus Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, the modern-day action kings.
Pan-India Appeal – Both films have multi-language releases, targeting audiences across the country and abroad.
Cultural Buzz – Social media is flooded with fan wars, box office predictions, and ticket booking screenshots.
Global Recognition – Both films are trending in international markets, signaling Indian cinema’s expanding reach.
Who Will Emerge Victorious?
With the release date of August 14 just around the corner, the race is heating up. Coolie is currently ahead in pre-sales and global hype, but War 2 has the screen count advantage and a proven franchise backing it.
Possible scenarios:
If Coolie maintains momentum – It could deliver one of the biggest openings in Indian cinema history, especially if reviews match the hype.
If War 2 picks up speed in Telugu markets – The gap could narrow rapidly, leading to a more balanced box office battle.
If both perform strongly – This could become one of the highest-grossing Independence Day weekends ever for Indian cinema.
Final Word
Whether you’re a die-hard Rajinikanth fan eager to see Thalaivar’s mass moments or an action junkie excited for Hrithik vs. Jr. NTR in War 2, this Independence Day clash is unmissable.
The big question remains: Will Coolie overpower War 2, or will the Spy Universe strike back?
We’ll know soon enough—but one thing is certain: Indian cinema is set for a historic weekend at the box office.
