'Coolie' vs 'War 2': Analysts predict winner of box-office clash
What's the story
The box office is set for a major showdown on Thursday with the release of two highly anticipated films, Coolie and War 2. The former stars Rajinikanth, while the latter features Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR in his Bollywood debut. Both films are releasing in multiple languages. Trade analysts have weighed in on which film could emerge victorious in this clash of titans.
Record-breaking pre-sales
'Coolie' has already raked in big bucks
Coolie has reportedly set a new record, becoming the first Tamil film to surpass $2 million in premiere pre-sales in North America. News18 Showsha suggests that the film has already recovered over 66% of its ₹375 crore budget before its release. In Chennai, reports suggest black-market scalpers are charging up to ₹4,500 per ticket.
Comparing pre-sales
'War 2' is also witnessing positive buzz
Meanwhile, War 2 has garnered strong buzz, with 1.1 million users marking interest on BookMyShow. As of Tuesday, the Ayan Mukerji directorial had recorded advance sales worth ₹4.1 crore, and the numbers continue to rise. However, it remains to be seen if War 2 can surpass its predecessor's day one figures, which was ₹51 crore, or even Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan (₹55 crore) to become the highest opener in YRF's spy universe.
Regional performance
Atul Mohan identifies key regions for this clash
As per trade expert Atul Mohan, the key regions where this clash will be interesting are Hyderabad and Bengaluru. He said, "Bengaluru has a mix of Tamil-speaking Rajini fans and Hindi-speaking audiences. It's a neutral center." "Hyderabad has a big Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna and Jr NTR fan base. These cities are like home grounds for both Rajinikanth and Jr NTR."
Marketing strategies
Lack of excitement around 'War 2' gives edge to 'Coolie'
Mohan also pointed out that the buzz around War 2 is comparatively underwhelming, giving Coolie an edge. He said, "It's underwhelming. People were so excited to watch Hrithik and Tiger Shroff in War. I'm not seeing the same hype in case of War 2." Bala attributed this lack of excitement to insufficient promotional efforts by the makers of War 2.
Global performance
Rajinikanth's massive fandom will help 'Coolie'
Chennai-based trade expert Ramesh Bala said, "War 2 maybe pulling its weight in the Telugu-speaking states and the northern belt but its screen count in the overall southern belt is much lesser." Mohan agreed, adding, "Rajinikanth enjoys a massive fandom in the USA." "The south Indian diaspora is spread across the USA, Singapore, Malaysia, and Middle-East, and these regions are leading the front for Coolie." He added that Tamil-speaking people are waiting to watch Coolie.