Genre: Action | Thriller
Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Producers: Sun Pictures
Release Date: 14 August 2025 (Worldwide theatrical release)
Lead Actor: Rajinikanth
Plot Summary
The movie Coolie reunites the legendary south-indian actor Rajinikanth with mass-action storytelling. In the film, he is presented as a coolie who, in his thalaivar’s signature charisma and the director Lokesh’s gritty narrative style, has risen against the systematic corruption and oppression. The film has high-octane action sequences, punch dialogues and an emotional father-son subplot anchoring the story, while the screenplay positively nods to Rajini’s iconic and all-time favourite Baashha-era persona.
Reception
There was a massive hype before the release of the movie Coolie. The response the movie got has lived up to the expectations:
- Critics: The critics have praised the film’s mix of style, action, mass appeal and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s layered storytelling. Many viewers have noted that Rajnikanth has delivered one of his strongest performances in years.
- Audiences: As Rajinikanth sir is a famous actor in South India as well as in the rest of India, the film has become a festival-like celebration with multiplexes and single-screen theatres recording the highest historic occupancies. The Fans have specially highlighted the dialogues and the emotional high points in the movie.
- Industry voices: The trade analysts have hailed Coolie as a Rajini comeback on a global scale, with its box office dominance despite the tough competition it has faced from the multiple releases during the Independence Day week.
Box Office Performance
Opening Day
- India Net (Day 1): The film earned INR 65 crores on its first day at the Box office, making it one of the biggest Indian film openings in 2025.
Day-by-Day Collections (India Net)
| Day | Date | Collection (₹ Cr) | Cumulative (₹ Cr) | Change |
| Day 1 (Thu) | 14 Aug | 65.0 | 65.0 | – |
| Day 2 (Fri) | 15 Aug | 42.0 | 107.0 | ▼35% |
| Day 3 (Sat) | 16 Aug | 39.5 | 146.5 | ▼6% |
| Day 4 (Sun) | 17 Aug | 40.0 | 186.5 | +1.2% |
| Day 5 (Mon) | 18 Aug | 18.5 | 205.0 | ▼53.7% |
| Day 6 (Tue) | 19 Aug | 19.0 | 224.0 | +2.7% |
| Day 7 (Wed) | 20 Aug | 21.0 | 245.0 | +10.5% |
| Day 8 (Thu) | 21 Aug | 24.0 | 269.0 | +14.2% |
By the end of the first week, the movie had earned INR 229.65 crores.
During the second week of running of the movie at the Box office, the movie had earned:
| Day/ Date | Net Collection (₹ crore, India, all languages) |
| Aug 22 (Day 8) | ₹ 6.25 cr |
| Aug 23 (Day 9) | ₹ 5.85 cr |
| Aug 24 (Day 10) | ₹ 10.5 cr |
| Aug 25 (Day 11) | ₹ 11.35 cr |
| Aug 26 (Day 12) | ₹ 3.25 cr |
| Aug 27 (Day 13) | ₹ 3.65 cr |
| Aug 28 (Day 14) | ₹ 4.85 cr |
| Aug 29 (Day 15) | ₹ 2.40 cr |
| Aug 30 (Day 16) | ₹ 2.19 cr |
| Aug 31 (Day 17) | ₹ 0.10 cr |
The total earnings of the movie during its second week run are INR 270.85 crores.
After Day 15, the movie entered its third week, and the earnings had seen a dip at the box office.
Highlights
- India Net (15 Days): INR 269–270 crore
- Worldwide Gross (2 Weeks): INR 498 Crores worldwide.
- The average occupancy of the theatres during the first week run of the company was 80-85% in Tamil Nadu and 70-75% in North India for the dubbed version of the movie.
- Overseas markets (UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, USA) contributed significantly, with strong holds after the first weekend.
- The overseas markets of the movie also contributed significantly, with a strong hold after the first weekend.
Budget & Recovery
- Estimated Budget: The estimated budget for the movie, including production and marketing, was INR 200-220 crores.
- Recovery: With INR 500+ crore worldwide already, the movie Coolie has entered the superhit/blockbuster zone within the first 2 weeks of running at the box office. Ancillary rights (digital, satellite, music) will ensure further profits.
Music & Soundtrack
The music and the soundtrack of the movie Coolie have been composed by Anirudh Ravichander. The music is so appealing that it has got the audience grooving to its beats. All the music and songs are a perfect blend of Stylish background score and mass anthems together. The title theme and mass intro song have become instant fan favourites and are heavily trending across various streaming platforms.
Industry Impact
The movie Coolie has been, by far, Superstar Rajinikanth’s best movie ever, and it also shows the amazing stardom that the superstar enjoys across all generations. For Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film has consolidated his position as one of the best directors in Pan India. The Trade circles have predicted that the lifetime domestic collection could cross INR 350-400 crores net, placing it among the Top 3 Indian films of 2025.
Summary
Lokesh Kanagraj’s movie Coolie is a festival-style blockbuster that reaffirms the mega superstar Rajininath’s superstardom. With a thunderous INR 65 crore opening days, a strong hold in the weekdays and a worldwide release and gross crossing of INR 500 crores in just 14 days, the film has straight away marched right into 2025’s defining box office stories. Therefore, the movie is a beautiful and perfect blend of action, emotion and star power. Coolie is not just a hit; it is a cinematic event.
