War 2 vs Coolie Sunday Box Office Clash: Hrithik Roshan, Jr. NTR, and Rajinikanth Face a Shocking Setback That No One Saw Coming
Sunday Disaster at Box Office! How War 2 and Coolie’s Dream of ₹200 Crore Weekend Shattered Despite Mega Star Power
The Indian box office witnessed a surprising twist on Sunday as two of the most anticipated films of 2025, ‘War 2’ starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, and ‘Coolie’ led by Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna, underperformed after an initially strong start. Weekend collections usually soar on Sundays thanks to the holiday factor, but both films saw an unexpected dip, shattering early projections and denting the hopes of crossing the coveted ₹200 crore milestone within the first weekend.
The excitement was immense ahead of the release. On paper, ‘War 2’ had everything—Ayan Mukerji at the helm, the powerful duo of Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, and the backing of YRF’s successful spy universe. Similarly, ‘Coolie,’ directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, boasted a star-studded cast including Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, and Shruti Haasan, supported by cameos from Aamir Khan and Upendra. With massive budgets nearing ₹400 crore each, expectations were sky-high for both films to dominate Independence Day week.
The opening day numbers offered hope, as both films crossed ₹50 crore collections, fueled by the holiday and fan enthusiasm. However, the momentum failed to carry forward over the weekend. By Sunday, both films showed significant drops in earnings, raising concerns about their long-term performance during the weekdays. This downturn has sparked discussions about whether star power alone is enough to guarantee box office success in today’s evolving cinematic landscape.
‘War 2’ Box Office Collection Report
‘War 2,’ the sixth installment in YRF’s Spy Universe, entered theatres with sky-high expectations. Released on August 14, the film had an impressive opening, grossing ₹52 crore on day one. However, the following days told a different story. By the fourth day, the film had collected ₹173.60 crore in total, but the trend showed a sharp decline compared to its predecessor, ‘War’ (2019).
On its first Sunday, ‘War 2’ earned ₹31.30 crore, lower than the ₹37.40 crore that ‘War’ managed on its first Sunday six years ago. The collections came primarily from the Hindi version at ₹26 crore, while Telugu and Tamil versions contributed ₹5 crore and ₹30 lakh respectively. Despite Jr. NTR’s massive fan base in the south, the Telugu version managed only ₹47.20 crore in four days, while the Hindi version crossed ₹125.50 crore. This imbalance highlighted the film’s inability to equally penetrate all linguistic markets.
The film’s day-wise breakdown stood as:
- Thursday: ₹52.00 crore
- Friday: ₹57.35 crore
- Saturday: ₹33.25 crore
- Sunday: ₹31.30 crore
Though the four-day total looks strong, the downward trajectory raises doubts about sustaining momentum through weekdays. With a budget of around ₹400 crore, ‘War 2’ needs strong weekday numbers to avoid slipping into underperformance territory.
‘Coolie’ Box Office Performance
Lokesh Kanagaraj’s directorial ‘Coolie,’ starring Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna, also struggled to maintain consistency over its first weekend. While its opening day saw a roaring start at ₹65 crore, the collections fell each day afterward, hitting a low on Sunday at ₹34 crore. By the end of day four, the film had amassed ₹193.25 crore, narrowly missing the 200-crore mark in its opening weekend.
The day-wise collections of ‘Coolie’ are as follows:
- Thursday: ₹65.00 crore
- Friday: ₹54.75 crore
- Saturday: ₹39.50 crore
- Sunday: ₹34.00 crore
Despite the dip, ‘Coolie’ performed exceptionally well in Tamil Nadu, entering the ₹100 crore club in just three days. The Tamil version contributed the majority of the earnings, but its performance in Hindi and Kannada was comparatively weak. Even the presence of high-profile cameos from Aamir Khan and Upendra failed to boost numbers significantly in those markets.
With weekday collections now becoming crucial, ‘Coolie’ is expected to cross the ₹200 crore mark on Monday. However, sustaining momentum across non-Tamil markets will be vital for long-term success.
Why Did Both Films Struggle on Sunday?
The underwhelming Sunday performance of both films reveals a larger issue. While fan excitement can guarantee strong opening day numbers, sustaining momentum requires more than star-studded casts and big budgets. Audience reception, word of mouth, and regional market adaptability play pivotal roles.
For ‘War 2,’ the lack of impact in the Telugu market was a major blow. Despite casting Jr. NTR, the film could not draw as much attention in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as expected. Similarly, ‘Coolie,’ though a mega-hit in Tamil Nadu, failed to strike a chord with audiences in Hindi-speaking states and Karnataka.
This shows that today’s audience demands more than spectacle—they want strong narratives, compelling characters, and freshness in storytelling. Without these, even films backed by the biggest names risk stumbling after their initial hype.
Conclusion
Both ‘War 2’ and ‘Coolie’ entered the box office with sky-high expectations but faltered to capitalize on their strong openings. While they remain massive entertainers with impressive collections in certain markets, their inability to sustain momentum across India highlights the challenges even the biggest blockbusters face in today’s cinematic climate.
The coming weekdays will decide whether these films can stabilize or face steep declines. One thing is clear: star power alone cannot guarantee long-term box office dominance anymore. Audiences now demand content-driven cinema, and this trend is reshaping the future of Indian films.
FAQs
Q1: How much did ‘War 2’ earn in its first weekend?
‘War 2’ earned ₹173.60 crore in its first four days at the Indian box office.
Q2: Did ‘Coolie’ cross ₹200 crore in its opening weekend?
No, ‘Coolie’ collected ₹193.25 crore in four days, missing the ₹200 crore milestone.
Q3: Which film performed better, ‘War 2’ or ‘Coolie’?
While ‘Coolie’ had a stronger opening, ‘War 2’ managed better consistency in Hindi markets. Overall, both struggled compared to expectations.
Q4: Why did Sunday collections drop for both films?
Despite the holiday, weak word-of-mouth and regional imbalances led to a decline in collections on Sunday.
Q5: What is the budget of ‘War 2’ and ‘Coolie’?
Both films are made with an estimated budget of around ₹400 crore each.
