Rajinikanth’s Coolie (2025) Critical Reception: Mixed Buzz
- Deccan Herald notes that overseas audiences called Coolie “a letdown,” pointing out its monotonous storytelling, though praising the visually thrilling final 20 minutes and climax Deccan Herald.
- Indian Express highlights that, despite immense anticipation, the film’s screenplay feels meandering and undercooked, describing it as “barely a Lokesh Kanagaraj film”—lacking the emotional grounding and pacing of his earlier hits The Indian Express.
The critical consensus: Coolie rides on Rajinikanth’s star power but struggles with coherence and originality.
Record-Breaking Box Office
Pre-Sale & Advance Sales
- Advance bookings smashed records in India, selling over 1.73 million tickets for Day 1 Cinema Express.
- Even pre-release projections estimated around ₹150 crore worldwide for opening day, with ₹90–100 crore nett in India, including a stronger-than-expected Hindi version performance (₹5 crore) Indiatimes.
Opening Day Collections
- India (Advance Booking Day 1): Grossed ₹37.3 crore from 17.32 lakh+ tickets sold. Tamil Nadu alone contributed ₹15.45 crore; Karnataka added ₹9.98 crore Koimoi.
- Day 1 at 4 PM: Nett collections reached ₹35.51 crore, with astonishing occupancy—Tamil: 82%, Telugu: 91%, Hindi: 25%. Cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Warangal hit 97–99% occupancy Hindustan Times.
- Early Nett Figures: Livemint reported ₹23.38 crore nett in India by midday mint.
- Box Office Clash: Coolie outperformed War 2 in early day collections—War 2 made ₹6 crore, while Coolie doubled that at ₹11 crore by evening The Times of IndiaRepublic World.
International Opening
- In North America, Coolie grossed a staggering US$2.9 million from premiere shows, becoming the 9th highest-grossing Tamil film on day one, surpassing films like Vikram and Petta MovieCrowThe Times of India.
Opening Week Outlook
- Industry projections estimate an opening day haul of ₹150 crore worldwide, followed by an expected ₹100 crore+ opening weekend IndiatimesThe Indian Express.
- Thanks to strong pre-sales, packed shows across South India, and festival timing, the film is on track for one of Indian cinema’s biggest opening weekends ever WikipediaThe Times of India.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Critical Reception | Mixed—visual flair in climax but weak overall script |
| India Advance Booking (Day 1) | ₹37.3 crore gross (17 lakh+ tickets) |
| Day 1 Nett India | ₹23–35 crore (midday to evening) |
| Pre-Sale Projections | ₹150 crore worldwide opening day |
| North America Premiere | US$2.9 million (9th biggest day one for Tamil cinema) |
| Opening Weekend Forecast | ₹100+ crore expected |
Final Word
Rajinikanth’s Coolie may not dazzle critics, yet its commercial opening is undeniable—and formidable. With blockbuster pre-sales, stadium-level theater occupancy, and international acclaim, it’s likely to become one of this year’s biggest box office successes, despite mixed reviews.
Let me know if you’d like comparisons with War 2, breakdowns by region, or streaming/OTT predictions.
