Superstar Rajinikanth’s Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, opened with a massive Rs 65 crore net on day one across all languages, marking one of the year’s biggest debuts. According to Sacnilk, the Tamil version saw an impressive 86.99 per cent occupancy on August 14, maintaining strong footfalls from morning to night shows across theatres

Superstar Rajinikanth has returned to the silver screen in style with Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, delivering a thunderous opening at the Indian box office. The high-octane action drama earned approximately Rs 65 crore net across all languages on its first day (early estimates) - the highest day-one figure for any Indian film in recent months.

Coolie box office report Day 1

According to Sacnilk, the film's Tamil version witnessed a phenomenal turnout, registering an overall 86.99 per cent occupancy on Thursday, (August 14). The trend remained consistently high throughout the day:

Morning Shows – 81.95 per cent

Afternoon Shows – 85.13 per cent

Evening Shows – 86.57 per cent

Night Shows – 94.32 per cent

In other languages, Coolie also posted remarkable numbers - 92.10 per cent occupancy in Telugu, 71.37 per cent in Kannada, and 35.66 per cent in Hindi.

The film’s wide release across the South, coupled with Rajinikanth’s massive fan following, ensured packed houses in most circuits.

Coolie clashed with War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani, and Jr NTR, which earned over Rs 52 crore on the same day in India. While War 2 performed strongly, especially in the Hindi belt and multiplex chains, it fell short of Coolie’s all-India collections.

Trade experts believe Coolie has room for growth thanks to its strategic release timing. Day two coincides with Independence Day, one of the most profitable dates for Indian cinema, followed by a long weekend bolstered by Janmashtami on Saturday. This extended holiday period is expected to keep momentum high at the box office.

However, the film’s reception has been mixed. While fans celebrated Rajinikanth’s larger-than-life performance and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s stylish direction, critics pointed out pacing issues and an overindulgence in mass moments.

The star-studded cast, including Nagarjuna, Aamir Khan, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and Upendra, added to the film’s pan-India appeal, though the Hindi version saw moderate traction compared to its Southern dominance.

With two major releases battling for screens, the Independence Day weekend is set to be a blockbuster showdown. Whether Coolie can maintain its lead over War 2 or face a surge from Hrithik–Jr NTR’s action spectacle will be the box office story to watch in the coming days.