Independence Day box office is in for a record showdown as Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR‘s War 2 faces off against Rajinikanth‘s Coolie. With release just days away, total advance bookings for the two films have already crossed the ₹50 crore mark, pointing towards one of the biggest opening week battles in recent history.
As per industry observers, Coolie is currently in the front runner position, fueled by Rajinikanth‘s unparalleled popularity in Tamil Nadu and among overseas Tamil fans. Advance sales of the film alone are pegged at a close to ₹30 crore, ably supported by premium tickets and record-breaking ticket rates in Chennai and elsewhere.
At the same time, War 2 from the YRF Spy Universe has witnessed a sudden spike in pre-release momentum, especially after the addition of Telugu-language series. Jr NTR’s inclusion has pushed the reach of the film deep into the South Indian market with Telugu advance bookings contributing a huge part of its ₹20 crore+ early bookings.
Trade analysts point out that this conflict is unprecedented in that it places two vastly disparate movie experiences against one another. Coolie guarantees massy, commercial fare of the Rajinikanth genre—filled with whistle-able dialogues, one-liners, and larger-than-life action. War 2, however, promises sleek, high-energy spy thrills, pitting Bollywood‘s highest–paid star Hrithik Roshan against South Indian superstar Jr NTR in a rare crossover feature.
The timing can’t be more opportune. Independence Day is usually among the biggest weekends for the Indian film trade, with long holidays and patriotic fervor tending to push ticket sales. Both films have already booked huge screen numbers—War 2 with over 5,000 screens across the country, looking at one of the biggest Hindi releases ever, and Coolie ruling the South with unprecedented theater saturation.
While initial projections indicate that Coolie might lead on Day 1 courtesy of Rajinikanth‘s popularity, trade analysts think that War 2 has the potential to catch up over the weekend through pan-India appeal as well as robust multiplex play in cities.
With pre-bookings already hitting record levels, everyone is now keeping their fingers crossed for August 14 to find out which behemoth comes out on top. Whichever way it goes, the collision is set to bring one of the biggest combined box office openings in the history of Indian cinema—making Independence Day 2025 go down in history as a milestone date for film enthusiasts.
