Coolie vs War 2: Which Film Will Rule the Independence Day Weekend?

Rajinikanth’s Coolie has taken a clear lead over War 2 in advance ticket sales, positioning the Tamil action drama for a strong opening as both films prepare for release on Thursday.

Data from trade trackers shows Coolie has secured more than Rs 26 crore in domestic advance bookings from its Tamil version alone, with global pre-sales projected at Rs 80 crore or higher. Industry estimates suggest the film’s combined advance collections across languages could touch Rs 100 crore before the first show begins.

War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, has drawn Rs 9.47 crore in worldwide pre-release ticket sales. Analysts expect the Hindi-Telugu spy thriller to open at Rs 18–Rs 19 crore domestically on day one.

Overseas performance has widened the gap. Coolie has become the first Tamil film to cross $2 million in North American advance sales, with totals approaching $3 million. War 2 has recorded $1.35 million in the same market and is targeting $8 million by the end of the extended opening weekend.

The head-to-head release is one of the year’s most closely watched box office events, coinciding with the Independence Day holiday. Trade analysts say Coolie is benefiting from Rajinikanth’s strong fan base in Tamil Nadu and overseas diaspora markets, while War 2 is banking on its multilingual appeal and the star pairing of Roshan and NTR to drive ticket sales in northern and southern circuits.

Theatres report high occupancy rates for Coolie’s first-day shows in Chennai, Bengaluru, and overseas hubs such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Dubai. Hindi-belt multiplex chains have reported stronger advance figures for War 2 compared with Tamil-language markets.

With both films opening on a public holiday followed by a weekend, early trends point to record-level combined collections. Final weekend tallies will depend on audience reception and sustained footfall after the initial holiday rush.