‘Toxic’ Gets a Second Chance? Can a Shorter Cut Change Its Fate?

—Surya Prakash Josyula

A film releases with huge expectations and gets strong openings on its first day. But then the reviews turn out to be mixed. The film manages to pull through the opening weekend, but as the days pass, the box-office momentum begins to slow down.

So, what happens if the makers take the same film, trim it a little, and release a new version? Can a shorter cut change the audience’s response and, more importantly, the film’s box-office result?

That is the interesting question surrounding Yash’s Toxic right now.

Why has this discussion suddenly started? Is Toxic getting a new version? Yes, but there is a difference. The versions already released in Indian languages are not being changed. Instead, the English version of Toxic is coming to theatres with a different and shorter cut.

That is what makes this development interesting.

A New Version, But Not for the Existing Languages

Toxic was released last week and opened strongly, thanks largely to the massive popularity Yash enjoys after KGF. However, as the film entered its second week, its box-office momentum began to slow down.

At this stage, the makers are bringing another version of the film to audiences. The English version of Toxic is scheduled to release in India on September 4, but it is not simply the same film dubbed into another language.

The New ‘Toxic’ Is 18 Minutes Shorter

The version currently playing in theatres runs for around 3 hours and 14 minutes. The English version, however, has a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 57 minutes.

That means the new version is nearly 18 minutes shorter.

There is another important difference. Toxic was reportedly made in both Kannada and English. So, the English release is being presented as a separate cut rather than simply another dubbed version.

Can Those 18 Minutes Make a Difference?

Runtime can significantly affect the way audiences experience a film. Even a good story can feel slow when a movie goes on longer than necessary. Removing certain scenes, on the other hand, can make the storytelling tighter and improve the pace.

That is why there is now curiosity about the English version. Which scenes have been removed? Will the film feel faster? Could audiences have a different opinion after watching the shorter cut?

The answers will become clear only after September 4.

What If the New Version Works Better?

This is where things become even more interesting. Suppose the English version receives a much better response and audiences feel that the shorter version is more engaging.

What happens then?

Will the makers consider making changes to the Telugu version as well? Could the Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam versions also be trimmed and released in a new form?

If audiences clearly prefer the shorter cut, the makers may have a reason to rethink the versions that are already playing in theatres.

So, Is This a Second Chance for ‘Toxic’?

The new English version is more than just another language release. It is also an interesting test of whether a film’s audience response can change when the same movie is edited differently.

The story remains the same. The cast remains the same. But the film is now nearly 18 minutes shorter.

Can that change the audience experience? Can it also change the box-office journey of Toxic?

We will know soon.

Because if the shorter version receives a significantly better response, a lot of calculations—and perhaps even the future of the other language versions—could change.