Superstar Rajinikanth has once again demonstrated his box office prowess with the release of Coolie. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, this highly anticipated action drama has made waves by shattering records on its opening day in North America, raking in an estimated USD 2.9 million from its premiere shows, according to distributor Prathyangira Cinemas.

What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is that Coolie has already secured its place as the 9th biggest Tamil grosser in North America, surpassing Kamal Haasan’s Vikram (USD 2.84 million), which was also directed by Kanagaraj. In addition to dethroning Vikram, Coolie has outperformed Rajinikanth’s previous films, Vettaiyan (USD 2.83 million) and Petta (USD 2.51 million).

While Vikram, Petta, and Vettaiyan achieved their totals over several weeks, Coolie has managed to reach or exceed those figures within mere hours. This remarkable performance highlights the unprecedented pre-release buzz surrounding the film, fueled by the high-profile collaboration between Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj, one of Tamil cinema’s most sought-after directors. Their partnership has generated immense anticipation, leading to significant advance bookings.

As the opening day progresses, Coolie is on track to break into the top 10 biggest Tamil films in North America before the day concludes. Early forecasts suggest that by the time full day-one figures are compiled, Coolie could secure the 8th position on the all-time list.

This impressive start positions Coolie as a dominant force in the coming days. If the positive audience reception aligns with the hype, as early social media chatter indicates, the film could aim for an even higher rank, potentially challenging the top five Tamil grossers in the market.