With 20 days still left for its premiere, Rajinikanth’s much-awaited action entertainer Coolie has already begun setting fire to the overseas box office. In a sensational start, the film has grossed $291,400 ( Rs 2.5 crore) in advance ticket sales for it’s premiere shows from 181 locations and 438 shows across the USA, with over 10,000 tickets already sold. Adding to the momentum, the Telugu dubbed version has also entered the fray with $40K+ in early bookings, hinting at a full-scale Thalaivar storm that’s just getting started.Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie marks the first collaboration between the celebrated filmmaker and Rajinikanth, following Lokesh’s success with Kamak Haasan’s Vikram and Thalapathy Vijay’s Leo. The film’s star-studded ensemble includes Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, Upendra Rao, Sathyaraj, and Soubin Shahir, promising an explosive multi-language cinematic experience designed for mass audiences.The early trend is clear: Coolie is not just another Rajinikanth release — it’s a full-blown pan-Indian event. Fans are thronging to grab premiere tickets, pushing the film toward record-setting potential, particularly in key overseas territories like the U.S. Analysts expect these numbers to multiply rapidly in the coming days and with the trailer set to release in the next few days one can expect a major surge in ticket sales. The film could become the biggest Tamil grosser in the circuit by the time it reaches the release day.However, Coolie is not entering the ring alone. Standing directly in its path is another cinematic titan: War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr. NTR, and Kiara Advani, directed by Ayan Mukerji. Backed by YRF, War 2 is a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster and carries immense brand recall and star power. With both films locked in for the same release weekend, the box office is gearing up for one of the biggest clashes Indian cinema has seen in recent years.As the countdown to August intensifies, one thing is clear: Indian cinema fans are in for a seismic showdown at the box office. Whether Coolie or War 2 emerges victorious remains to be seen, but for now, the Thalaivar storm has taken the early lead — and it shows no signs of slowing down.
