The multiplex owners cited unreasonable demands for an increased number of screenings of the movie as the reason for the boycott.
Reports in the local media suggest that intervention from 20th Century Fox (Australia) has led to a compromise with Warner Bros (India) agreeing to four shows a day of The Simpsons Movie in cinemas originally contracted to play six shows.
Other multiplexes will play the movie between three to four times a day, as per their earlier agreement with Warner.
While national chains including Fame, Inox, Adlabs, Fun, Cinemax, Movietime and City Pride boycotted the film, as well dropping the latest Harry Potter release from their programme, in Mumbai the movie was being screened at select theatres like PVR Sterling and G7 and at PVR, Satyam and Wave cinemas in Delhi.
PVR made an exception as they are said to have an annual contract with Warner Bros.
The release of two much-awaited Hindi films, Cash and Gandhi My Father, plus Partner's continued strong run also restricted the number of screens available for relatively lower revenue earning English-language films.
Sony's Surf's Up also released last week with the absence of The Simpsons Movie only helping its box -office collections. However with the multiplexes revising their programmes mid-week, and given the poor response to the two Hindi releases, Bart and Homer might be able to recoup some losses.
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