The Independence Day weekend of 2025 set the stage for one of Indian cinema’s most electrifying box office battles: Rajinikanth’s Coolie versus Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s War 2. With both films releasing on August 14, 2025, fans and trade analysts eagerly awaited the outcome of this star-studded clash. Now, as the dust settles, Coolie has emerged as the clear winner, rewriting box office history with its unprecedented pre-sale numbers and opening day dominance. Here’s a spicy breakdown of how this cinematic showdown unfolded for Masala Mirror readers!

Coolie Scripts History with Record-Breaking Pre-Sales

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie hit the ground running, smashing advance booking records worldwide. The Rajinikanth starrer raked in over ₹110 crore in global pre-sales, with ₹32.26 crore from India alone for its opening day. In North America, Coolie became the first Tamil film to cross $2 million in premiere pre-sales, eventually hitting $2.85 million, leaving War 2 trailing at just $650K. Posts on X echoed the frenzy, with one user exclaiming, “#Coolie pre-sales in North America are 5 TIMES more than #War2 – and that too without an IMAX release! VERA LEVEL ”

The film’s multi-language appeal—Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada—fueled its dominance. Tamil Nadu alone contributed ₹24.98 crore in advance bookings, while the Telugu version surged with ₹62.60 crore, showcasing Rajinikanth’s pan-India pull. The star-studded cast, including Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, and a cameo by Aamir Khan, added extra masala to the mix, making Coolie a nationwide event.

War 2 Fights Hard but Falls Short

Yash Raj Films’ War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji, brought its own firepower with Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani leading the charge. As part of the YRF Spy Universe, the film promised high-octane action and a slick narrative. However, its advance bookings told a different story. By August 13, War 2 had grossed ₹10.25 crore in India (₹18.79 crore including block seats) and a modest ₹15 crore worldwide, a far cry from Coolie’s ₹70 crore lead in global pre-sales.

The Telugu version of War 2 gained traction after bookings opened on August 12, driven by Jr NTR’s loyal fanbase, with BookMyShow recording 20,000 tickets sold per hour. Despite this, the film’s opening day projections in India stood at ₹25–45 crore, compared to Coolie’s expected ₹100–150 crore globally. War 2’s larger screen count (5,000 in India for the Hindi version alone) and IMAX exclusivity gave it an edge in accessibility, but the buzz around Coolie proved too overwhelming.

Day 1 Verdict: Rajinikanth Reigns Supreme

Early estimates for August 14 paint a clear picture: Coolie’s Day 1 net collection in India hit ₹74 crore across all languages, with global figures projected to cross ₹100 crore, potentially nearing ₹150 crore. War 2, while respectable, opened with ₹20–30 crore in India and struggled to keep pace overseas. Social media buzz reflected this, with fans in Tamil Nadu and Kerala turning Coolie screenings into a “festival” of sorts, while War 2 leaned on positive word-of-mouth for its action sequences to gain momentum.

Trade analyst Sumit Kadel predicted Coolie would deliver the “biggest ever opening for a Tamil film,” estimating ₹80–90 crore in India and ₹155–165 crore worldwide. Meanwhile, War 2’s mixed reviews—praising its stunts but critiquing its story and VFX—hindered its ability to close the gap.

Why Coolie Won the Box Office War

Several factors tipped the scales in Coolie’s favor:

• Rajinikanth’s Golden Jubilee: Celebrating 50 years in cinema, the superstar’s unmatched charisma drew massive crowds, especially in South India.
• Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Midas Touch: The director’s track record with Vikram and Leo amplified anticipation for Coolie’s high-energy action and ensemble cast.
• Strategic Release: The extended Independence Day weekend and aggressive marketing gave Coolie a head start, particularly in Tamil Nadu and overseas markets like North America and Australia.
• Pan-India Appeal: With stars like Aamir Khan and Nagarjuna, Coolie resonated across linguistic divides, unlike War 2, which leaned heavily on Hindi and Telugu markets.

Will War 2 Bounce Back?

While Coolie has claimed the opening day crown, War 2 isn’t out of the game. Its U/A certificate and family-friendly appeal could drive weekend collections, especially in Hindi-speaking regions. Trade expert Girish Johar noted, “There’s ample space for multiple releases during a big holiday window,” suggesting War 2 could still hit ₹45 crore+ in India over the extended weekend if reviews improve. Jr NTR’s fanbase in Telugu states and the Spy Universe’s loyal following might also fuel a late surge.

The Masala Mirror Take

This box office clash was a true spectacle, with Coolie delivering a knockout punch on Day 1, thanks to Rajinikanth’s larger-than-life presence and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s crowd-pulling direction. War 2, despite its star power and slick production, couldn’t match the Tamil titan’s momentum. As the weekend unfolds, will Hrithik and Jr NTR’s spy thriller stage a comeback, or will Coolie continue its record-shattering run? Stay tuned to Masala Mirror for the latest updates on this epic cinematic saga!

Disclaimer: Box office figures are based on early estimates and may vary as final numbers are reported.