The Indian film industry is gearing up for a massive box office clash on August 14, 2025, as Rajinikanth's Coolie and Hrithik Roshan-Jr NTR's War 2 prepare to compete. Early advance booking figures indicate that Coolie is leading pre-sales both domestically and internationally, outpacing War 2. Trade experts predict Coolie could achieve a worldwide opening day collection of Rs 80 crore, driven by its overseas performance.
The breakeven targets for both films are substantial, with Coolie needing to collect Rs 600 crore to achieve hit status and War 2 requiring Rs 700 crore. In the Telugu states, Coolie needs to collect Rs 90 crore, while War 2 needs to collect Rs 150 crore to break even. These targets are ambitious, but positive word-of-mouth could make them achievable for both films.
Coolie has already made a strong start in advance bookings, grossing Rs 14.12 crore in India and selling over 6.8 lakh tickets. Internationally, the film has crossed $4 million in pre-sales, with North America contributing $1.7 million. War 2, on the other hand, has recorded Rs 2.09 crore in advance sales in India, with a strong performance in premium formats like IMAX and 4DX.
Industry trackers predict that Coolie will dominate the Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka markets, leveraging Rajinikanth's unmatched pull in the South. However, War 2 is expected to have an edge in the Hindi belt, with its legacy from the 2019 blockbuster War and YRF's nationwide reach. The Telugu market is shaping up to be a battleground, with Jr NTR's lead role potentially helping War 2 score big.