The Looney Tunes animated feature "Coyote vs. Acme" opened to an estimated $15.5 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, securing second place at the box office. The film was acquired by Ketchup Entertainment for worldwide distribution after Warner Bros. canceled its release.
For the fifth consecutive weekend, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" held the top spot, grossing $22.2 million. "Coyote vs. Acme" debuted behind the superhero film, exceeding expectations for an independently distributed release.
The journey of "Coyote vs. Acme" to the big screen was unconventional. Originally produced for HBO Max, Warner Bros. decided not to release the completed film in 2023, opting instead for a tax write-off. This decision mirrored the shelving of other projects like "Batgirl" and "Scoob! Holiday Haunt."
Following an outcry from filmmakers and fans, Warner Bros. put the film up for sale. Ketchup Entertainment acquired the worldwide distribution rights in early 2024 for approximately $50 million. The film, which cost $70 million to produce, is based on an Ian Frazier "Shouts and Murmurs" New Yorker column and follows Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation over faulty products. It stars Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, and Eric Bauza, with Dave Green directing the hybrid live-action and animation.
Despite its troubled production history, "Coyote vs. Acme" received positive reviews and audience scores, earning an "A" CinemaScore and a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Director Dave Green expressed his satisfaction with the film's theatrical release, stating, "'Coyote vs. Acme' is finally, gloriously, in theaters now. Which means one thing. WE WON."
The opening weekend performance was the highest ever for Ketchup Entertainment, whose previous top earner was "The Day the Earth Blew Up" in 2024, another Warner-made Looney Tunes castoff that opened with $3.1 million.
"The box office numbers are fair, but the reception is excellent and the release should set up good ancillary business for kids’ viewing, where the film should recoup its investment," said David A. Gross, publisher of the box office newsletter FranchiseRe.
Other films in the weekend's top five included "The Odyssey" in third place with $14.3 million, "Insidious: Out of the Further" with $10.1 million, and Ridley Scott's "The Dog Stars" which opened in fifth place with $8 million. "The Dog Stars," a film about a pilot and a German Shepherd surviving a pandemic, is reported to have cost between $70 million and $100 million to make and added $11.3 million overseas.