There’s a saying in Tamil cinema: legends don’t retire, they just reinvent. And if ever proof was needed, Rajinikanth’s latest outing, Coolie, offers a thunderous reminder. In just two days, the Lokesh Kanagaraj directorial has stormed past the ₹250 crore mark at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2025 so far. More impressively, it’s done so while barely breaking a sweat.
Day 2 Box Office: Rajinikanth Reigns Supreme
Released on the eve of India’s Independence Day, Coolie rode into theaters on a wave of massive anticipation. With a combination of holiday hype and megastar charisma, the film recorded a stellar opening. But contrary to the majority of South Indian superstar movies that would normally experience a steep fall on day 2, Coolie was an exception.
Instead of the usual 30-40% fall, Coolie experienced a very minimal fall of just 17% on its second day, an anomaly for Tamil films. Owing to good word of mouth and the extended holiday period, audiences kept flocking into theaters.
In India alone, Coolie netted ₹118.50 crore in just two days, with the gross collection reaching ₹145 crore. The overseas market added even more muscle to its box office numbers. On day 1, the film grossed a staggering $8.75 million (₹73 crore) overseas, the highest ever opening day for a Tamil film internationally. Despite day 2 being a regular working day outside India, the overseas tally after two days comfortably crossed $13 million (₹110 crore).
When added up, Coolie’s total worldwide box office collection stands at over ₹255 crore, making it the first Tamil film in 2025 to reach the ₹250 crore milestone, and it has done so in just two days.
Taking Down the Competition
Tamil cinema in 2025 has seen several big releases. Ajith Kumar’s Good Bad Ugly and Vidaamuyarchi, and Suriya’s Retro and Dragon, all had their moments at the box office. But Coolie has now surpassed them in a matter of days.
Ajith’s Vidaamuyarchi earned a respectable ₹138 crore, while Good Bad Ugly stood tall at ₹248 crore during its theatrical run. Suriya’s Dragon hit ₹150 crore, making it one of the biggest hits of the year until Coolie came along.
With just two days under its belt, Coolie has already left these films behind, becoming the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year. What’s more? This milestone has been achieved before the film even reaches its first Saturday, a day traditionally considered a goldmine for box office collections.
Rajinikanth: Still the Undisputed King
For over four decades, Rajinikanth has been the face of Tamil cinema. While debates have emerged in recent years about whether younger stars like Ajith Kumar, Vijay, or Suriya have overtaken the superstar, Coolie shuts that conversation down in emphatic fashion.
At 74, Rajinikanth has delivered what could be the biggest hit of his career and certainly one of the most significant blockbusters in Tamil film history. The numbers are staggering, but what’s more impressive is the pan-India and even global appeal Coolie has managed to achieve.
Even when compared to Rajinikanth’s previous box office juggernauts like Kabali, Petta, and Jailer, Coolie is pacing faster. It’s even on track to challenge the all-time Tamil record set by 2.0 (2018), which collected ₹691 crore globally.
If Coolie continues its momentum through the weekend, analysts believe the film could easily cross ₹400 crore by the end of Sunday, setting it up as a serious contender for the top spot in Tamil cinema history.
What Makes ‘Coolie’ Click?
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the most promising director in Tamil cinema right now, Coolie is an action drama with high-adrenaline content and a high emotional quotient. Lokesh, who had directed superhits like Kaithi, Master, and Vikram earlier, has yet again come up with a stylish entertainer that aligns with the strengths of his lead hero and has a good story to tell.
Rajinikanth fronts the all-star cast as the eponymous Coolie, bringing intensity as well as charm. Powerful support comes from Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, and Upendra as well. A cherry on the icing is provided by Aamir Khan, who has a surprise cameo that has been creating some serious hype amongst fans.
The Road Ahead
With rave reviews, strong word of mouth, and houses packed in India and abroad, Coolie is set to have a historic run. The coming weekend will be crucial in determining just how far this juggernaut can go. Trade pundits are already speculating that if the trend continues, Coolie could become the highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, surpassing even 2.0.
In a year full of big-ticket releases, Coolie has reminded the industry and the audience that when Rajinikanth arrives, the rest step aside.