‘The Odyssey’ Storms Back to Indian IMAX Screens Just Two Days After Being Ousted by ‘Toxic’
In a dramatic turn of events at the Indian box office, Warner Bros.’ The Odyssey has returned to IMAX screens across the country just two days after being pulled. The film was originally removed on August 26 to make way for the highly anticipated Yash-starrer Toxic, ending a historic 40-day run. Despite playing on just 34 IMAX screens, The Odyssey had accumulated an impressive ₹90 crore, maintaining strong occupancy until its last day.
The sudden decision to reinstate the Matt Damon-starrer comes following the unexpected underperformance of Toxic. On its last day before being pulled, The Odyssey held a 43% occupancy rate, prompting Warner Bros. to request at least one daily IMAX screening to meet ongoing audience demand. While the distributors of Toxic initially insisted on securing all available IMAX shows, sharp drops in attendance forced theater owners to reconsider.
The shift in viewer demand became evident in occupancy figures over the week. On Wednesday, August 26, Toxic recorded a 51.6% occupancy rate compared to 48.7% for The Odyssey. However, by Thursday, August 27, Toxic saw its IMAX occupancy drop sharply to 17.4%, while The Odyssey held firm at 37.6%.
Exhibitors reacted quickly to the shift in audience interest. Major multiplex chains—including Cinepolis, PVR, Inox, and Miraj across Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, Surat, and Lucknow—re-added screenings starting August 28. Notably, Broadway Cinemas in Coimbatore stood as the sole IMAX venue in India that never discontinued the Hollywood film. Meanwhile, Bengaluru remains the only major market where IMAX screens continue to show Toxic exclusively through the weekend.
Trade analysts and cinema owners had anticipated a potential return after a week or two, making this swift two-day turnaround a rare occurrence. With screens restored nationwide, industry observers are now watching closely to see if The Odyssey can leverage its restored IMAX run to hit the coveted ₹100 crore benchmark in India.
