Exclusive! War 2 vs Coolie Box Office prediction: Which big-budget spectacle will set cash registers ringing?
Which movie do you think among War 2 and Coolie will perform better at the box office and which movie will get a wider and better reach among the audience? Here's what a trade analyst has to say. Dive inside for more details.
New Delhi: Will Rajinikanth's starrer Coolie beat YRF’s War 2 at the box office? The trade analysts have shared their expectations in terms of box office numbers in an exclusive conversation with TV9 English Digital on the two big-ticket films that are set to clash at the box office this Independence Day.
One has Rajnikanth headlining it with Aamir Khan in a special appearance, and the other has Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. Who will win the battle at the box office?
In an exclusive conversation with us, trade analyst Ramesh Bala feels that both films will open well in their respective domains. He said, "War 2 and Coolie are pan-India movies. War 2 comes from Bollywood, with Hrithik as the hero and the South superstar Junior NTR as the villain. They have an advantage in North India, the Telugu states, and to some extent in Karnataka. Coolie is also a pan-India movie. It stars Rajnikanth, Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, Upendra, and Shobhan, so it covers a lot of stars in terms of star power.
However, as per Bala, Coolie will have a big opening in the South and a moderate opening in the North. Overseas, in Singapore and Malaysia, Coolie is likely to do very well.
He further added, "In the USA and the Gulf, both Coolie and War 2 are expected to do very well. So, it depends on word of mouth, whichever movie gets the best word of mouth will move forward.”
Another trade analyst, Girish Wankhede, feels that it will be a fierce fight at the box office. He said, "War 2 offers the high-octane action and glamour typical of Bollywood blockbusters, yet some critics argue it lacks the intrigue and freshness that Coolie seems to possess. The latter appears to have a unique appeal, igniting curiosity and excitement among fans. While both films are expected to surpass the Rs 100 crore mark in their opening weekends, Coolie may have the edge due to its rich narrative and star-studded cast. In this cinematic showdown, it is anticipated that Coolie will ultimately triumph over War 2, thanks to its compelling storyline and the magnetic presence of Rajinikanth, making it a must-see film for audiences across the country."
Exhibitor and distributor Abhimanyu Bansal feels War 2 and Coolie belong to different regions. Bansal said, "War 2 is predominantly a Bollywood movie. Of course, it has a South Indian star also, Jr NTR. Jr NTR comes from a different region than Rajinikanth. Rajnikanth is a great actor with a great fan following, but he’s from Tamil Nadu, so his audience is a little different. Jr NTR does Telugu films, so his audience is different too. Hrithik Roshan is pan-India."
He added, "In North India especially, Coolie will not have that much of an impact. And I think the marketing strategy of the movie has changed a bit. They are not focusing on North India much—maybe because they are not getting the screen count. War 2, on the other hand, will be releasing in at least 5,000 screens pan-India. That will have a bigger reach for sure. Rajnikanth has his limitations—great actor, great fan following—but somewhere, there is a limitation."
Traan Adarsh opined that Ayan Mukerji's directorial, War 2, will monopolise the Hindi market. He said, "War 2 has a very big edge in the Hindi market. Yash Raj has booked all over from 2D. It will be their monopoly. The teaser and song of the film have been appreciated.”
When asked if Rajnikanth does not have a huge draw like it used to be in Hindi which Adarsh said, "Rajnikanth market is just okay in the Hindi market, but he will have a huge edge in only Tamil Nadu. As the Coolie business Telugu will get impacted due to Jr NTR.”
With inputs from Bharti K Dubey!