Rajinikanth’s much-anticipated action thriller Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has stormed past box office records even before its release. Sun Pictures, the producers, announced that the film has crossed $2 million in premiere pre-sales in North America, becoming the first Tamil film in history to achieve this milestone.
#Coolie varraan solliko!😉 #Coolie is the First Tamil film to cross $2 million in premiere pre-sales in North America 🤩#Coolie releasing worldwide August 14th@rajinikanth @Dir_Lokesh @anirudhofficial #AamirKhan @iamnagarjuna @nimmaupendra #SathyaRaj #SoubinShahir… pic.twitter.com/Vccw6V0hQs
— Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) August 12, 2025
With two days still left before its worldwide release on August 14, Coolie has already outperformed previous record-holders. Rajinikanth’s own Kabali (2016), which grossed $1.92 million in premiere pre-sales, held the top spot for nearly a decade. Other Tamil blockbusters like Vijay’s Leo (2023), The GOAT (2024), and Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 (2022) now fall behind in the rankings.
Top Tamil Films – US Premiere Pre-Sales:
| Top Tamil Films | US Premiere Pre-Sales |
| Coolie (2025) | $2 million+ |
| Kabali (2016) | $1,922,995 |
| Leo (2023) | $1,863,631 |
| The GOAT (2024) | $1,090,450 |
| Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 (2022) | $1,054,801 |
| Jailer (2023) | $948,698 |
Fans have taken to social media to celebrate the historic feat, calling it “Rajinikanth mass” and predicting that the film will “create a new history” upon release. One fan wrote, “With two days left, Coolie overtakes Kabali and creates history. Record maker & record breaker #Thalaivar #Rajinikanth.”
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) describes Coolie as “a mysterious man taking a stand against a corrupt syndicate exploiting and abusing the workers of a port town.” The film also stars Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Aamir Khan in prominent roles.
With record-breaking pre-sales, sky-high anticipation, and an Independence Day weekend release, Coolie is on track to deliver one of the biggest openings ever for a Tamil film in the US.