Image Source : HMTV
The Indian Independence Day box office witnessed an electrifying clash this week as two of the most anticipated films of 2025, War 2 featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, and Rajinikanth’s gangster epic Coolie, hit theatres together. This high-profile face-off not only delivered staggering numbers but provided a spectacle in audience turnout, fan fervor, and film industry dynamics.
Opening Bell: Numbers Speak Louder Than Hype
The much-anticipated War 2, headlined by the action pairing of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, rode into cinemas on a wave of excitement but found itself outpaced by the Rajinikanth juggernaut. Day 1 saw War 2 delivering a robust collection of around Rs 52.5 crore nationwide across all languages, with the Hindi version contributing Rs 29 crore and the Telugu version not far behind at Rs 23.25 crore. This made War 2 one of the year’s leading Bollywood openers, pushing it into the top 10 for Hindi films this year, and beating the recent Chhaava’s opening.
Yet, despite its strong start, War 2 could not eclipse the cinematic storm of Coolie. Rajinikanth’s Coolie raced ahead, recording a staggering Rs 65 crore on Day 1, setting the superstar’s new personal best for opening day performances. The film dominated in Tamil regions (Rs 45 crore), posted powerful numbers in Telugu (Rs 15 crore), and demonstrated decent pull in Hindi (Rs 4.5 crore) and Kannada markets (Rs 0.5 crore). Coolie also logged a massive 86.99% occupancy for its Tamil version and over 92% occupancy in Telugu screens—a rare feat even for major festival releases.
Key Highlights of the Box Office Battle
War 2’s Hindi occupancy on Day 1 hovered at 29.24%, while Tamil screens for the film showed a 42.41% fill rate. Its success was notable in multiplexes but trailed Coolie in mass circuits.
Coolie’s overwhelming reception in the South, with near-packed houses (sometimes topping 97-99% occupancy in cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Warangal), underscored Rajinikanth’s enduring ticket power.
Both films drew mixed to negative critical reviews, but audience ratings bucked the critical consensus. Early audience feedback gave War 2 an edge on rating platforms, signaling strong initial word-of-mouth, yet Coolie’s mammoth ticket sales were hard to rival.
The box office clash quickly grabbed trade headlines, as Coolie’s final tally outpaced Bollywood’s biggest 2025 openers and laid down a challenging benchmark for upcoming biggies.
Regional Performance and Trends
War 2’s pan-India release strategy paid off best in the Hindi and Telugu belts, though the Tamil version saw modest response.
Coolie’s linguistic spread was its trump card, with the Rajinikanth-starrer surging in the South’s biggest movie markets and still mustering a noticeable presence in North Indian metros.
Coolie’s thunderous opening continued Rajinikanth’s tradition of turning festivals into box office carnivals, and the film now stands as his highest opening day ever, surpassing 2.0 and Jailer.
Audience Response and Social Buzz
War 2 enjoyed high user ratings on movie platforms, even as critics highlighted its VFX and narrative shortcomings. The duo of Hrithik and Jr NTR, however, impressed fans with their action set pieces and chemistry.
For Coolie, night shows sold out quickly, and Rajinikanth’s devoted fanbase marked the occasion with celebratory cutouts, motorbike rallies, and popcorn showers—making every screening an event in itself.
What’s Next: Box Office Outlook
The extended holiday weekend promises to intensify the contest. While Coolie’s monstrous opening has set the pace, War 2’s urban and multiplex appeal could buoy its collections as word-of-mouth builds. The coming days will reveal whether War 2 can play catch-up or Coolie’s dominance will persist.
Source: Times of India
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