Lokesh Kanagaraj’s much-anticipated action drama Coolie, fronted by Rajinikanth, is turning into a worldwide cinematic event days ahead of its theatrical debut. With record-shattering pre-sales, the film is on track to create history for Tamil cinema.
According to trade sources, advance bookings for Coolie have already crossed ₹80 crore globally, with over 1.8 million tickets sold before release. The film’s pre-sale momentum is unprecedented; projections suggest it will comfortably breach the ₹100 crore mark by opening day and could even hit ₹150 crore if the current trend holds. Industry trackers are predicting a massive ₹125 crore-plus opening day gross worldwide, a figure that could challenge the all-time Tamil record set by Vijay’s Leo (₹143 crore).
In North America, Coolie has pulled off a historic feat. Sun Pictures, the film’s producers, revealed that it is the first Tamil film to cross $2 million in premiere pre-sales in the region, a milestone achieved with a day still to go. The number has since climbed close to $3 million, dethroning Rajinikanth’s own Kabali (2016), which held the previous best at $1.9 million. It has also outpaced other recent big openers, including Leo, The GOAT, Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1, and Jailer.
The buzz has been equally electric in India, with the Telugu states recording a booking frenzy the moment tickets went live. As per reports, Coolie’s pre-release numbers will push it past Jailer’s day-one tally of ₹96.50 crore, making it Rajinikanth’s biggest-ever opener.
Coolie, an action thriller, marks Rajinikanth's first collaboration with Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film will, however, not be a part of the LCU or Lokesh Cinematic Universe, as the filmmaker has revealed previously. The ensemble cast includes Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Aamir Khan, while Pooja Hegde plays a cameo.
