Coolie and War 2 Box Office Report: Independence Day Biggies Face Sharp Drop After First Weekend
The much-hyped Independence Day 2025 releases, Rajinikanth’s Coolie and NTR–Hrithik Roshan’s War 2, have completed their first weekend and entered a crucial phase at the box office.
While Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, delivered terrific collections across regions during the opening weekend, War 2, helmed by Ayan Mukerji, saw an underwhelming performance after a strong August 15 holiday boost.
Box Office Trend After Holiday Weekend
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Trade reports confirm that on Monday, noon shows, both films witnessed a 70% drop in collections across India.
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This sharp decline is seen as alarming, considering the massive budgets and star power riding on these two big-ticket entertainers.
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Analysts point out that audiences today are far more selective, with exorbitant ticket prices and the promise of early OTT releases making them cautious about which films they watch in theatres.
Changing Audience Behavior
In earlier years, even films with mixed reviews managed to sustain for a couple of weeks, but the current trend suggests otherwise. Post-weekend drops are now severe, with only those films that audiences find truly worth the ticket price sustaining at the box office.
What’s Next for Coolie & War 2?
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Coolie still enjoys strong word-of-mouth in certain markets, giving it a chance to bounce back over the weekdays.
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War 2, however, needs a significant turnaround in collections to stay afloat, especially given its pan-India scale and franchise expectations.
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The coming week will be crucial in deciding whether these films can stabilize or if their collections continue to nosedive.

