Rajinikanth’s upcoming action film Coolie has already pulled off the kind of box office feat that makes distributors grin and competitors nervous — and it hasn’t even opened yet. With 48 hours to go before release, the movie has clocked 1.33 million advance ticket sales on BookMyShow (BMS), the highest for any Indian film this year.
The Superstar Effect Is in Full Swing
There’s something almost predictable about Rajinikanth doing the unpredictable. Two days before release, Coolie has leapfrogged every other 2025 release in pre-sales. That includes big-ticket Hindi and Telugu titles that arrived with massive marketing campaigns.
It’s not just the volume, but the pace. The film crossed the one-million mark in pre-sales within three days, a milestone most films struggle to touch even after opening weekend. For a veteran actor in his seventies, this isn’t just a comeback story — it’s a statement.
And yes, the buzz is deafening.
Closing In On the Tamil Cinema All-Time Record
Right now, Coolie holds the second-highest Tamil pre-sale count on BMS since the platform began tracking in August 2023. The only one ahead is Thalapathy Vijay’s Leo, which holds the benchmark at 2.28 million tickets sold.
But here’s the twist — Coolie is actually pacing better than Leo did at this point in its pre-release cycle. Vijay’s thriller stood at 1.27 million tickets sold with two days left; Rajini’s actioner is already at 1.33 million.
Could it happen? Sure. Will it? The next 48 hours will decide.
The Current Tamil Pre-Sales Leaderboard
The data paints a clear picture of how Coolie stacks up in recent history. Since August 2023, these are the top five Tamil films in pre-sales on BMS:
| Rank | Film | Tickets Sold (Millions) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leo (Thalapathy Vijay) | 2.28 | 2023 |
| 2 | Coolie (Rajinikanth) – so far | 1.33 | 2025 |
| 3 | Jailer (Rajinikanth) | 1.19 | 2023 |
| 4 | The Greatest of All Time (Vijay) | 1.19 | 2024 |
| 5 | Vettaiyan (Kamal Haasan) | 0.706 | 2024 |
One small detail — two of the top three are Rajinikanth films. That’s no coincidence.
War 2 Feels the Heat
While Rajini’s advance sales skyrocket, his competitor this week, War 2, seems to be struggling to ignite the same frenzy. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, the YRF Spy Universe sequel has sold under 200,000 tickets in three days on BMS.
That’s a stark contrast. In the same three-day window, Coolie blew past a million. The gap is so wide it’s almost unfair to call it a “clash.”
Industry insiders suggest the timing is hurting War 2. Releasing opposite a Rajinikanth film in peak form is a bit like scheduling a cricket final opposite Diwali celebrations — you’re going to lose audience attention no matter how good your team is.
Why the Numbers Matter Beyond Just Bragging Rights
Advance ticket sales aren’t just a fan flex. They’re a reliable barometer for opening weekend performance. High pre-sales indicate strong word-of-mouth expectations and give exhibitors confidence to add more shows.
For Coolie, this momentum could translate into a record-breaking opening weekend, especially in Tamil Nadu where Rajini remains box office royalty. But the ripple effect might stretch nationwide — multiplex chains in the north have already increased show counts after seeing the BMS data.
The economics here are huge:
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Pre-sales lock in revenue before the first review drops.
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They also give leverage in distribution negotiations overseas.
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Merchandising and brand tie-ins benefit from early visibility.
And Rajini films, historically, don’t just open big — they sustain for weeks.
A Pattern of Dominance
Looking back, Jailer in 2023 proved Rajinikanth’s enduring pull. It had 1.19 million BMS pre-sales and went on to gross over ₹600 crore worldwide. That film also faced skepticism before release, with analysts questioning whether younger audiences still connected with Rajini.
Those doubts seem almost laughable now. With Coolie trending even stronger, the conversation has shifted from “Can he still pull it off?” to “How much higher can he go?”
One industry executive put it bluntly: “You can launch as many pan-India spectacles as you want, but Rajini releases feel like festivals. And festivals sell out.”
The Final Stretch Before Release
The next two days are critical. If momentum continues, Coolie might actually threaten Leo’s all-time record. That would mean Rajinikanth dethrones Thalapathy Vijay in the one metric that matters most pre-release.
Fans, of course, are treating this like a sporting event. Social media is flooded with ticket screenshots, fan art, and countdown posts. Some theatres in Chennai and Bengaluru have already planned early morning shows, a throwback to the 90s Rajini mania.
There’s no doubt — the Coolie wave is here. Whether it washes away Leo’s record will depend on just how high that wave rises by Thursday night.
