War 2 vs Coolie box office: Rs 99 ticket offer doesn’t help Hrithik Roshan’s film; Here’s how Rajinikanth’s movie is performing

It has been six days since the release of War 2 and Coolie, both of which hit theatres on August 14. The clash between Hrithik Roshan–Jr NTR’s action-packed thriller and Rajinikanth’s larger-than-life entertainer was one of the most anticipated box-office battles of 2025. Both films carried immense hype, but the tide seems to be turning in favor of Rajinikanth.

On Tuesday, a nationwide campaign allowed audiences to watch movies at just Rs 99, a move that usually boosts collections significantly. Yet, despite the slashed ticket prices, War 2 failed to bring people into theaters in large numbers. Coolie, while also seeing a decline, is still holding stronger.

War 2’s Box Office Performance So Far

War 2 was released in both Hindi and Tamil, aiming to tap into a wider audience base. The opening was impressive, with Rs 52 crore on day one, giving Yash Raj Films hope that the film would replicate or even surpass the success of the 2019 original.

On its second day, collections jumped slightly to Rs 57.35 crore, proving Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s star power was still a big draw. However, by the third day, earnings dropped to Rs 33.25 crore, and the fourth day brought in Rs 32.15 crore.

The first major blow came on day five when the film managed only Rs 8.75 crore. By day six, even with tickets priced at Rs 99 under the “Blockbuster Tuesday” offer, War 2 earned just Rs 8.25 crore (as of 10 PM). That brings the film’s total domestic collection to Rs 192.75 crore.

For a film mounted on such a massive budget with international action sequences and a star-studded cast, these numbers are falling short of expectations.

Coolie’s Box Office: Rajinikanth Still Rules

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth’s Coolie is showing why he continues to be the undisputed king of the box office. Released in five languages — Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada — the film opened at Rs 65 crore on day one.

Its second day brought in Rs 54.75 crore, followed by Rs 39.5 crore on day three. The numbers declined steadily over the next few days: Rs 35.25 crore on day four, Rs 12 crore on day five, and Rs 9.5 crore on day six (as of 10 PM).

Even with the slowdown, Coolie has now earned a total of Rs 216 crore in India. Compared to War 2, the drop-off has been more gradual, and the film’s multilingual release strategy is paying off.

The Worldwide Picture: Rajinikanth vs Hrithik Roshan

Looking at global collections, the difference becomes even clearer. While War 2 has earned Rs 281.2 crore worldwide in five days, Coolie has crossed Rs 407.90 crore in the same period.

This isn’t just about box office dominance—it’s about momentum. Coolie is benefitting from Rajinikanth’s unmatched fan following across South India and abroad. His films traditionally draw massive crowds during the first week, and Coolie is no different.

War 2, despite being part of YRF’s much-talked-about Spy Universe, doesn’t seem to have connected as strongly with audiences outside its initial fan base.

What These Numbers Mean

It’s clear from the figures that Coolie is ahead both in India and globally. Rajinikanth’s pull remains unparalleled, and even the Rs 99 ticket strategy couldn’t rescue War 2 from slipping.

For Hrithik Roshan, the numbers aren’t disastrous, but they fall short of the blockbuster status Yash Raj Films was banking on. For Rajinikanth, Coolie reinforces his dominance and proves that his superstardom cuts across generations and languages.