Coolie Early Reviews: After Vettaiyan co-starring Amitabh Bachchan in 2024, Rajinikanth is all set for the release of his upcoming film on August 14. A private screening of the film was held on Thursday,
August 8, and early reviews have already begun to pour in. And for those wondering how the film is, select fans have revealed that Coolie is Rajinikanth’s best performance since Kabali in 2016.
An X user has shared a detailed analysis of the performance of every key character in the film. For Rajinikanth, the user wrote, “Best perfomance loading after Kabali.” He also called Nagarjuna the “backbone” of the film. As for Aamir Khan’s extended cameo in the project, the netizen said that his appearance “turned the entire theatre into a stadium”. Take a look:
#Coolie – INSIDE REPORTS: MASS 🔥
LOKI COOKED 🧨🔥#Rajinikanth???? Best Perfomance Loading After Kabali ✅#ShrutiHaasan is Main Highlight of Film ✅#Nagarjuna is Backbone of This Film ✅❤️🔥#AamirKhan Cameo Will Turned Theatre Into Stadium💥🥵
There is A Big Surprise😉
— ALEX (@OnlyCinema_post) August 5, 2025
Yet another user reviewed Coolie and called it a “terrific” film. From Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Pooja Upendra, and others, everyone from the star cast gave the film their best. Here is yet another review for the film:
Coolie Movie Review #Coolie#CoolieReview #AamirKhan #Rajinikanth #NagarjunaAkkineni #ShrutiHaasanHot #LokeshKanagaraj #Anirudh pic.twitter.com/LIZafzqzlU
— Varinder Sinngh (@varindersingh24) July 15, 2025
All you need to know about Coolie advance booking
With only days left for the release of Rajinikanth’s Coolie, advance bookings have officially opened, and the response has been overwhelming. The high-octane action entertainer, which is set for a box office clash with Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s War 2, is already raking in impressive pre-release numbers. In Kerala and Karnataka, select theatres will kick off early screenings as soon as 6 am on August 14. However, in Tamil Nadu, fans will have to wait until 9 am for the first show due to local regulations.
The Tamil Nadu government has prohibited early morning screenings ever since a fan tragically lost his life during the first-day-first-show of Thunivu in 2023. As a result, theatres across the state have confirmed that Coolie will not be screened before 9 am. The film has also been given an ‘A’ certificate by the Censor Board, restricting entry to viewers aged 18 and above. Several cinemas have already issued public disclaimers to ensure audiences are aware.
In Kerala, advance bookings will open tomorrow (August 8) at 10:30 am, with select halls gearing up for special 6 am shows. In Karnataka, similar early screenings are expected, while bookings in other regions are set to ramp up in the coming days as demand continues to surge.
The excitement is equally strong overseas. In the UK, Coolie has been cleared by censors without cuts, with the first show scheduled for 12:30 am BST (5 am IST). In Dubai, listings already feature a 9:30 am IST screening, with more timings expected to follow soon.
Early sales figures point to a massive start. The film has already grossed $2 million in pre-sales, including a staggering $1.3 million from North America alone. Distributor Prathyangira Cinemas reported that over 50,000 tickets have been sold in that market, indicating a potentially record-breaking opening.
Boasting a stellar ensemble cast led by Rajinikanth, alongside Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, and Shruti Haasan, Coolie is shaping up to be one of the year’s most anticipated cinematic events — both in India and abroad.
Rajinikanth’s 2016 film Kabali was a box office hit
Kabali (2016) is a Tamil-language action drama directed by Pa. Ranjith and starring Rajinikanth in the titular role, alongside Radhika Apte, Winston Chao, Dhansika, Kishore, and Dinesh. Set primarily in Malaysia, the film follows the story of Kabaliswaran, an aged gangster who is released from prison after 25 years and sets out to reunite with his family while taking on his rivals.
The film was one of the most anticipated Indian releases of 2016, generating massive pre-release hype with its stylish teaser and Rajinikanth’s new look. It opened to record-breaking advance bookings and released simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, with dubbed versions in Malayalam and other languages.
Kabali received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Rajinikanth’s charismatic performance, emotional depth, and the film’s social themes, though some criticised its pacing and screenplay. Despite the divided critical response, it became a commercial success, grossing over Rs 600 crore worldwide, and reinforced Rajinikanth’s enduring box office dominance.
