As Independence Day 2025 approaches, Indian cinema is gearing up for one of its biggest clashes — War 2 vs Coolie, both set to release on August 14.
While the star-studded lineups and commercial hype are at an all-time high, one key battleground where War 2 has already scored a m***ive win is in the IMAX format war.
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Yash Raj Films has reportedly locked an exclusive deal with IMAX Corporation, ensuring that War 2 will play across all 33 IMAX screens in India — and many more overseas — for at least three weeks.
What’s more, IMAX has officially certified War 2 as the only Indian film cleared for IMAX release till November 2025, highlighting its high-end technical readiness and global presentation standards.
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In contrast, Coolie, starring Rajinikanth and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, initially teased IMAX aspirations. Early posters even featured the IMAX logo, but insiders confirm that the film was never certified for IMAX.
After inquiries from IMAX Corporation, the logo was pulled, and it’s now official that Coolie will not be released in any IMAX theatre. This is a significant setback, especially given the film’s grand scale and Lokesh’s previous IMAX success.
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Lokesh Kanagaraj’s last film Leo stunned the trade by scoring the 7th biggest Thursday IMAX opening of all time in India, despite playing in just 10 Indian IMAX screens and missing support from major North Indian multiplex chains.
For context, Leo grossed 775K USD (approx. ₹6.5 crore) from IMAX alone — an exceptional figure given the cirblockstances.
The IMAX race is more crucial than ever, considering India’s growing premium format market. In recent years, Indian films like Jawan, Pathaan, Kalki 2898 AD, and Pushpa 2 have performed strongly in IMAX, with Oppenheimer leading the pack at $6.16 million (₹51 crore).
Given this landscape, War 2 clearly has the upper hand in the premium screen segment — especially since even Tamil Nadu’s IMAX screens, a market where Coolie is expected to dominate, have been locked for War 2. Industry insiders estimate Coolie may have already lost at least 10 crores in potential IMAX revenue.
Though Coolie still holds m***ive appeal due to Rajinikanth’s pull and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s fanbase, War 2 has taken a definitive lead in the high-stakes IMAX race — a factor that could significantly influence the final box office outcome.
