The box office clash between War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, and Rajinikanth's Coolie is one of the most anticipated cinematic events of the year, generating immense buzz and নানা predictions from trade experts. Both films are slated for release on August 14, 2025, coinciding with the Indian Independence Day weekend, setting the stage for a fierce battle at the box office.

Advance Booking Trends

As the release date approaches, advance booking trends offer insights into the potential opening day collections of both films. Coolie has demonstrated a strong lead in advance bookings, both domestically and internationally. According to Bollywood Hungama, Coolie has already sold tickets worth ₹27 crore internationally and is projected to have a massive ₹80 crore opening day. In North America, Coolie is far ahead with USD 1.85 million in premiere pre-sales and is on track to cross USD 2 million.

In contrast, War 2 is trailing in international pre-sales. Bollywood Hungama reported that War 2 has ₹4.5 crore in advance bookings internationally, with the Telugu version contributing around 50 percent of the entire amount. As of August 11, 2025, War 2 had a first-day advance booking gross of ₹3.15 crore in India. According to Sacnilk, early estimates for War 2's advance sales had touched Rs 4.1 crore by Tuesday, with blocked seats pushing the tally to Rs 8.54 crore.

Trade Expert Predictions

Given the advance booking trends, several trade experts have weighed in on the potential opening day collections of War 2 and Coolie.

IndiaToday.in quoted trade analyst Girish Wankhede, who stated that the buzz for Coolie is strong in the North Indian market and that the film has an edge due to the advance booking kickstarting earlier. He added that Coolie has a footprint in the interiors as it is a mass film and not a class film. Wankhede expects both Coolie and War 2 to be ₹500 crore grossers, but Coolie has the advantage.

Ramesh Bala stated that Coolie could dominate the box office in the South without any doubts and that its potential to hit ₹1,000 crore will depend on word-of-mouth. He also noted that Coolie has the long weekend advantage and could easily make ₹350-400 crore in its first week.

According to trade expert Joginder Tuteja, War 2 is likely to open to over ₹60 cr on day 1, followed by over ₹75 cr earnings on Independence Day. Another trade analyst, Rohit Jaiswal, predicted that War 2 might have a smashing opening of around ₹70 cr (net) in the Hindi belt on the day of its release.

Factors Influencing Box Office Performance

Several factors are expected to influence the box office performance of War 2 and Coolie:

• Star Power: Both films boast impressive star casts. War 2 features Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, while Coolie stars Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, and Nagarjuna Akkineni.
• Genre and Target Audience: Coolie is considered a mass film with a strong appeal in South India, while War 2 is expected to attract a more urban-centric audience.
• Clash with Other Releases: Both films are releasing alongside each other, which may impact their individual collections.
• Word-of-Mouth: Positive word-of-mouth is crucial for the long-term success of both films, especially in the Hindi market for Coolie.
• Screen Count and Distribution: War 2 is expected to have a wide release, potentially securing more screens due to Yash Raj Films' distribution plan.

Conclusion

While War 2 is expected to perform well, particularly in the Hindi-speaking markets and Telugu states due to Jr NTR's presence, trade experts predict that Coolie will likely open lower than Rajinikanth-Aamir Khan's film. Coolie's strong advance bookings, pan-India appeal, and Rajinikanth's massive fan base give it an edge in the initial days. However, the ultimate box office success of both films will depend on audience reception and sustained momentum in the weeks to come.