Rajinikanth’s Coolie Makes History as One of India’s Biggest Openers Worldwide
Rajinikanth’s recent release film Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, has stamped its name in Indian cinema history by entering the all-time top 10 list of biggest Indian openers worldwide. Released on August 14, the gangster action drama shattered records with the highest opening ever for a Tamil film, highlighting Rajinikanth’s enduring pan-India appeal.
The Race for India’s Biggest Openers
The journey of Indian cinema’s biggest openers began with SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), a game-changer that crossed ₹100 crore and ₹200 crore worldwide on opening day, setting industry standards. Rajamouli raised the bar even higher with RRR (2022), further revolutionizing box office records.
The momentum continued with Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 – The Rule in 2024, which recorded a phenomenal ₹275.20 crore worldwide opening, nearing the ₹300 crore milestone. Though Coolie did not crack the top five, it carved a unique place by delivering the biggest Tamil cinema opener and ranking 7th in the historic list.
Top 10 Biggest Indian Openers at Worldwide Box Office
| Rank | Film Title | Original Language | Day 1 Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pushpa 2: The Rule | Telugu | ₹ 275.20 Cr |
| 2. | RRR | Telugu | ₹ 223.00 Cr |
| 3. | Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion | Telugu | ₹ 217.00 Cr |
| 4. | Kalki 2898 AD | Telugu | ₹ 177.70 Cr |
| 5. | KGF: Chapter 2 | Kannada | ₹ 159.00 Cr |
| 6. | Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire | Telugu | ₹ 158.10 Cr |
| 7. | Coolie | Tamil | ₹ 153.00 Cr |
| 8. | Leo | Tamil | ₹ 142.90 Cr |
| 9. | Devara: Part 1 | Telugu | ₹ 142.00 Cr |
| 10. | Saaho | Telugu | ₹ 130.00 Cr |
Telugu Cinema Dominance & Tamil Cinema’s Rising Star
The list is led predominantly by Telugu films with six entries, thanks to their massive pan-India appeal initiated by Baahubali. Tamil cinema is making significant strides, represented by Coolie and Leo, while Kannada and Hindi films also made their mark with one entry each.
Upcoming Blockbusters to Watch
The list of biggest openers could see major changes with several upcoming high-profile releases including:
- Prabhas’ Spirit, Fauji, The Raja Saab, Salaar 2, Kalki 2
- Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana, Animal Park, Dhoom 4
- Shah Rukh Khan’s King
- Allu Arjun’s AA22
- SS Rajamouli’s Gen63 (Mahesh Babu starring)
- Yash’s Toxic
- Jr. NTR’s Dragon
- Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2
- Vijay’s Jana Nayagan
Stay tuned to BoxOfficeIndex for the latest updates on the Indian box office.
