With Coolie set to release on August 14, 2025, the buzz surrounding Rajinikanth’s 171st film is reaching fever pitch. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and backed by Sun Pictures, the film is already smashing advance booking records and is poised to challenge the box office dominance of recent Tamil blockbusters like Jailer and Leo. But can Coolie truly surpass these giants?
Coolie vs Jailer: Rajinikanth’s Own Benchmark
Jailer (2023), directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, grossed over ₹600 crore worldwide, becoming Rajinikanth’s highest-grossing film to date.
Coolie has already surpassed Jailer in North American premiere collections, earning over $1.12 million compared to Jailer’s $948K.
In Kerala, Coolie is expected to beat Jailer’s ₹5.85 crore opening day record, with early shows scheduled from 6 AM and ticket sales surging.
With a ₹375 crore budget and Rajinikanth reportedly paid ₹150 crore, the scale of Coolie is significantly larger, suggesting higher box office potential.
Coolie vs Leo: The Kollywood Titan
Leo, starring Thalapathy Vijay and also directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, holds the record for the highest Tamil film opening in India with ₹66 crore net on day 1.
Coolie is projected to open with ₹59–61 crore net, which may fall short of Leo’s day 1 but could surpass it in lifetime collections if word-of-mouth is strong.
In Kerala, Leo opened with ₹12 crore, the highest for a Kollywood film. Coolie is expected to challenge this record, driven by Rajinikanth’s massive fan base and early morning shows.
In the USA, Coolie has taken a 25% lead over Leo in advance bookings, indicating stronger overseas traction.
Predicting Coolie’s Box Office Trajectory
Film Day 1 India Net USA Premiere Kerala Opening Lifetime Gross
Note: Figures are based on current estimates and pre-release data.
Verdict: Can Coolie Break Records?
Coolie is already rewriting Rajinikanth’s overseas records and is on track to deliver one of the biggest Tamil openings ever. While it may not surpass Leo on day one, its broader appeal, ensemble cast, and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s direction could give it longer legs at the box office. If the content resonates, Coolie could emerge as the highest-grossing Tamil film of all time.
Would you like a follow-up article comparing Coolie with War 2, its box office rival releasing the same day?