Unlikely Hit: 'Coyote vs. Acme' Surprises at Box Office After Warner Bros. Shelved It
By Editor • August 30, 2026 • 1 min read
In a remarkable turn of events, the animated feature "Coyote vs. Acme," once dismissed by Warner Bros. as unreleasable, outperformed expectations at the box office, earning $15.4 million in its opening weekend. This quirky blend of animation and live action triumphed over Jacob Elordi’s sci-fi flick, "The Dog Stars," which only managed to pull in $8 million despite a budget of $70 million and direction from the acclaimed Ridley Scott.
Initially shelved as a $30 million tax write-off, "Coyote vs. Acme" found new life after being acquired by indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment. The film cleverly uses Looney Tunes characters to critique corporate greed, a theme that resonated with audiences and critics alike. Ketchup has strategically limited its financial risk, spending $50 million for the film and recouping $20 million by selling foreign rights.
Though its earnings are modest, the film's success marks a significant achievement for the team involved, considering it was nearly abandoned by its original studio under David Zaslav. In fact, its opening weekend surpassed many other 2023 Warner Bros. releases, suggesting that perhaps the studio underestimated its appeal.
Source: www.indiewire.com
#box office #Coyote vs. Acme #Ketchup Entertainment #Ridley Scott #Warner Bros.
