Rajinikanth’s 'Coolie' crosses USD 550K in USA advance bookings for premiere shows, set to challenge records of 'Jaile'r and 'Leo'

Superstar Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie is already setting the stage for a historic box office debut in the United States of America. With 16 days still to go before its August 14 premiere, the film has stormed past the $550,000 mark in advance sales in the USA alone, signaling immense anticipation and the possibility of shattering previous Tamil film premiere records.

As per the latest data, Coolie has raked in $557,700 ( Rs 4.84 crore) from over 20,500 tickets sold across more than 800 shows in 365 locations, while Canada bookings are yet to open which will take the tally into a different league.


This strong start places Coolie firmly on track to challenge, and possibly surpass, the premiere records set by Rajinikanth’s own Jailer (USD $948,000) and Thalapathy Vijay and Lokesh’s Leo (USD $1.5 million). Both films created massive waves in their respective openings, but Coolie backed by an even bigger scale and broader ensemble is shaping up to be an even bigger theatrical event.

Both Leo and Jailer were able to earn USD 5.69 million and USD 5.77 million respectively by the end of the theatrical run in North America. It would be interesting to see how the combination of Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagraj fares in comparison.

The film brings together a pan-Indian cast, including Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, and Soubin Shahir. The buzz has been further amplified by cameo appearances from Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde, whose involvement has widened the film’s appeal beyond the South Indian demographic.

Adding to the drama is the high-stakes box office clash between Coolie and Aditya Chopra’s War 2, another major Independence Day weekend release. War 2 boasts an A-list lineup featuring Hrithik Roshan, Jr. NTR, and Kiara Advani, and is directed by Ayan Mukerji of Brahmāstra fame. The film is a part of YRF’s spy universe, making it a major draw for mainstream Hindi film audiences. The advance booking for War 2 is expected to open in the next few days.

With 16 days remaining and momentum building rapidly, Coolie has already crossed a critical milestone. If this trend continues—especially once Canada opens and last-minute bookings roll in—Rajinikanth’s latest venture might not only outshine his own Jailer, but also rewrite the North American premiere playbook for Tamil cinema.