As Coolie, Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, makes its way to its August 14 theatrical release, the film itself is redrawing overseas box office projections. Superstar Rajinikanth reprises Deva, aided by an all-star pan-India cast, and fans around the globe are greeting it with unprecedented enthusiasm.
Star Cast & Film Essentials
Coolie features a powerhouse lineup. Superstar Rajinikanth anchors the film as Deva, a legendary gold smuggler seeking vengeance. Alongside him:
- Nagarjuna Akkineni plays Simon, lead villain who has been characterized as exuding “freedom” and depth in terms of psychological complexity. His gripping performance has apparently taxed him on set emotionally
- Aamir Khan makes a cameo appearance as Dahaa, entering the legacy cast out of respect for Rajinikanth, even before reviewing the script
- Shruti Haasan appears as Preethi, delivering glamour and dramatic presence.
- Soubin Shahir as Dayal, Upendra as Kaleesha, Sathyaraj as Rajasekar, and supporting cast including Reba Monica John, Junior MGR, Monisha Blessy, Kaali Venkat, and Rachita Ram complete the cast
With a soundtrack by Anirudh Ravichander, much-awaited songs such as “Chikitu” and “Monica” have already clocked tens of millions of views on YouTube, adding to worldwide buzz. The movie has also been rated A by the CBFC—Lokesh’s maiden uncensored PG-13 kind of movie which never compromises on violence or realism
Overseas Pre-Sales: Record-breaking Figures
UK Pre-Sales
- 20,000+ tickets sold
- £225,000+ gross—impressive for a Tamil release, signaling strong diasporic support.
North America (USA + Canada)
- USA: Sold over $1,020,402
- Total NA including Canada: $1.16M—a massive early week trend for a Tamil film in international markets.
Malaysia
- Day 1 sold 23,700+ tickets, grossing over MYR 550,000—a testament to Tamil-speaking fanbases in Malaysia.
Malta
- 488 tickets sold, grossing €7,995—strong openings in niche markets with limited shows.
Ireland
- 369 tickets sold on opening day, grossing €4,200+.
Poland
- 389 tickets over 3 shows (357 on Day 1, 32 on Day 2), grossing PLN 21,907 (~$5,910).
Australia & New Zealand
- Over 10,000 tickets already sold in advance—impressive traction in ANZ markets.
Finland
- Opening weekend sold 201 tickets, grossing €3,618, limited shows yet very positive uptake.
What This Means for Coolie
Rajinikanth’s Unstoppable Reach
Even in western regions such as the UK, Poland, and Malta, pre-sales demonstrate Rajini’s worldwide fan base remains strong—and growing.
Cross-Cultural Appeal
North America pushing over $1 million pre-sales shows the film’s pan-Indian reach and appeal beyond just South Indian audiences.
Strategic Release
These figures validate Sun Pictures’ wise strategizing—massive simultaneous release in several nations to catch early swell of popularity.
High Confidence in Distribution
Early word-of-mouth in secondary markets could very well impact theatrical allotments and seat levels by the second week, contributing to increased overall revenue.
Why Coolie’s Advance Sales Are Historic
- Unprecedented for Tamil Cinema: The scale of North American pre-booking for Coolie outpaces most previous south-Indian films.
- Diaspora Strength: The UK, Malaysia, ANZ, and North America have witnessed strong initial support by diaspora—prime box office motivators.
- Effective Marketing: The star-studded audio launch and trailer (featuring Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Aamir Khan, Shruti Haasan, and team) created a perfect storm of anticipation
- Music & Word-of‑Mouth: Viral songs like Chikitu and Monica by Anirudh maintained online buzz, helping ticket push three weeks before release
Release Timeline & Further Insights
It has an August 14, 2025 theatrical worldwide release, and it will be shown in formats including 2D, 4DX, and D‑Box. In recent interviews, it has been categorically asserted by Lokesh Kanagaraj himself that there will be no compromise on adult content and storytelling, yet again solidifying an intention by the film to cross genres.
While facing competition from Pan-India giants like War 2, Coolie’s early overseas traction indicates a strong worldwide footprint. A theatrical window of approximately eight weeks is expected before streaming rights kick in—likely on Prime Video around October
Final Thoughts
Coolie represents what a pan-India film done right can do—marshaling huge star power, strategic global marketing, and unparalleled fan devotion. Early foreign bookings bespeak more than hype—they’re a statement: Rajini fans worldwide know Coolie has action, strength, and box office greatness to deliver.
If the momentum persists domestically in India, anything above ₹1,200–1,500 crore globally within grasp. Pre-release overseas purchases give us a glimpse of blockbuster possibilities.