Rajinikanth’s Coolie makes history as first Tamil film to cross $2 million in US pre-sales, beats Kabali and Leo

The countdown is on for Coolie, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s star-studded action drama featuring the legendary Rajinikanth — and it’s already making waves before its August 14th release. Produced by Sun Pictures, the film has just shattered all previous records for US premiere advance bookings, making history as the first Tamil film to cross $2 million in North America pre-sales.

Sun Pictures took to social media to celebrate this monumental feat, proudly announcing, “#Coolie varraan solliko! #Coolie is the First Tamil film to cross $2 million in premiere pre-sales in North America.”

This record-breaking achievement means Coolie has not only outpaced Tamil blockbusters like Leo and Ponniyin Selvan I but has also toppled Rajinikanth’s own Kabali (2016), which previously held the premiere pre-sale crown at $1.9 million.

Fans are ecstatic, dubbing the phenomenon a true “Rajinikanth mass” moment. The comment sections are full of cheers for Rajinikanth, with many noting the records the film has already broken. One noted that Coolie has broken Rajinikanth's own record with Kabali.

Coolie has set a new benchmark in Tamil cinema by becoming the first film to exceed $2 million in US premiere pre-sales, surpassing Rajinikanth’s previous record with Kabali ($1.92 million). It also outperformed other recent blockbusters like Leo ($1.86 million), The GOAT ($1.09 million), Ponniyin Selvan I ($1.05 million), and Jailer ($948,698), firmly establishing itself as the most anticipated Tamil film in North America ahead of its release.

Coolie marks the first collaboration between Lokesh Kanagaraj and Rajinikanth, featuring an ensemble cast including Nagarjuna, Nimma Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Aamir Khan. The film’s gripping synopsis, as listed by the British Board of Film Classification, describes it as “a mysterious man taking a stand against a corrupt syndicate exploiting workers in a port town,” promising a thrilling cinematic experience.

With Coolie’s advance bookings smashing records and fans buzzing with excitement, it’s clear this film is gearing up to be a blockbuster event of 2025.