On August 28, 2025, Rajinikanth’s Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, crossed the monumental ₹500 crore mark at the worldwide box office, cementing its status as a global cinematic phenomenon. Superstar Rajinikanth leads an ensemble cast including Nagarjuna and Aamir Khan. The action thriller has become Rajinikanth’s second film post-pandemic to hit ₹500 crore, following Jailer.Released across India and international markets like North America and Australia. Achieved in just 14 days since its August 14 premiere. Fueled by Rajinikanth’s star power, Anirudh’s music, and a gripping narrative, Coolie dominates despite competition.
A Record-Breaking Run
Coolie, released on August 14, 2025, to mark Rajinikanth’s 50th year in cinema, stormed theaters with a record-breaking ₹153 crore global opening, the highest for a Tamil film. By day 14, it grossed ₹500 crore worldwide, with ₹267.08 crore net (₹313.15 crore gross) in India and ₹175 crore overseas. The film’s North American haul of $6.8 million (₹59 crore) and Australia’s $14 lakh (₹7 crore) underscored its global appeal.
The Power of Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie stars Rajinikanth as Deva, a former coolie union leader seeking justice for his friend Rajasekhar’s (Sathyaraj) death, clashing with cartel lord Simon (Nagarjuna) and Dayal (Soubin Shahir). The film’s high-octane action, Anirudh Ravichander’s electrifying score, and cameos by Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde amplified its draw. Despite an initial A-certificate, a U/A re-certification from August 22 boosted family audiences. X posts, with 75% praising Rajinikanth’s “mass appeal,” reflect fan frenzy.
Surpassing Milestones Amid Challenges
Coolie outpaced Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 (₹480 crore), becoming the fourth-highest-grossing Tamil film, trailing Rajinikanth’s 2.0 (₹691 crore), Jailer (₹604.5 crore), and Vijay’s Leo (₹605.9 crore). Despite a 65% drop post-opening weekend and competition from War 2, which earned ₹227.25 crore by day 13, Coolie maintained dominance. Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations slightly impacted weekday earnings.
A Lasting Legacy
With Amazon Prime Video securing digital rights for ₹120 crore, Coolie is set for an OTT debut around October 9. Its ₹350 crore budget has been recovered, with profits soaring. Will Coolie challenge Jailer’s ₹604.5 crore lifetime haul or plateau amid festive slowdowns? As Rajinikanth’s star power and Lokesh’s vision continue to captivate, Coolie’s ₹500 crore milestone reaffirms Tamil cinema’s global clout, inspiring fans and filmmakers alike in 2025.
-By Manoj H