The A CinemaScore and 3,575-theater North American debut are verified, but weekend grosses are still reported as estimates and the film's staying power is unproven.
Ketchup lands $15.5M opening after studio reversal
Looney Tunes film beats studio shelf to find paying crowds
In a nutshell
After studio Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the completed movie Coyote vs. Acme for an estimated $30 million tax write-down in late 2023, public pressure led independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment to buy the rights for roughly $50 million and bring it to theaters on August 28, 2026. The film earned $15.47 million domestically and $23.9 million worldwide in its opening weekend, setting an audience grade record for the Looney Tunes franchise while beginning the work of earning back its purchase price.
Highlights
- Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the completed $70 million movie in November 2023 for an estimated $30 million tax savings.
- Ketchup Entertainment bought worldwide distribution rights in March 2025 for a reported $50 million.
- The film earned $15.47 million across 3,575 North American theaters in its debut weekend.
- Opening-night audiences awarded the film an A grade from CinemaScore, setting a new franchise mark.
- Worldwide opening weekend sales reached $23.9 million across 31 territories.
Opening weekend worldwide box office
million USDArea is proportional to the value.
The findingNorth American theaters generated nearly two-thirds of the movie's total global opening ticket revenue.
- North American ticket sales compared with international ticket sales during the opening weekend.
- North America — Box office sales from theaters in the United States and Canada
- International — Box office sales from 31 territories outside North America tracked by Rentrak
- Shows early geographic ticket distribution as the distributor works to recoup its acquisition investment.
From the Editor’s Diary
Consumer outcry and independent buyers can rescue discarded corporate projects, but long-term box office endurance determines whether rescuing them makes financial sense.
Who's involved
Ketchup Entertainment
small independent movie distributor
goal → turn an abandoned studio project into a profitable theatrical release
Warner Bros. Discovery
major Hollywood entertainment studio
goal → cut financial losses through tax write-downs and rights sales
Dave Green and the Coyote vs. Acme filmmakers
director and creative crew
goal → bring their finished picture to moviegoers worldwide
CinemaScore
theatrical audience research firm
goal → survey opening-night crowds to measure audience satisfaction
In short
A completed Hollywood movie that was almost destroyed to save on taxes has reached movie theaters and found an eager audience. This matters because it proves that public outrage and independent distributors can overturn a studio's choice to bury its own art.
The film now has a chance to turn a profit across global box offices, home video and streaming platforms.
Whether it actually breaks even remains uncertain because the distributor spent roughly $60 million to buy and advertise the picture, and ticket sales drop quickly after opening week. Only upcoming sales numbers over the next month can settle the balance sheet.
How it unfolded
Warner Bros. shelves finished movie
Warner Bros. decided not to release the completed live-action and animation film Coyote vs. Acme, choosing a tax write-down over a theatrical rollout. The studio cited a shift in animation strategy, while trade reports estimated a $30 million tax savings on the roughly $70 million project. Director Dave Green called the decision devastating, and public backlash spread quickly across the film industry.
Backlash forces studio to seek outside buyers
Public criticism made the studio reverse course within days and let the creative team pitch the film to other buyers. Streaming services including Netflix, Amazon and Apple looked at the project, but price disagreements stalled any deal. Warner Bros. wanted about $75 million to $80 million and turned down lower bids, leaving the movie without a clear path to release.
Independent distributor Ketchup buys worldwide rights
After a year of deadlock, independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment agreed to buy worldwide distribution rights for a reported $50 million. The company had previously acquired another unwanted Looney Tunes feature from Warner Bros. Ketchup announced the deal on March 31, 2025, and promised to bring the movie to theaters the following year.
Marketing campaign builds toward theatrical debut
Ketchup followed through by organizing a traditional cinema rollout. Actor Will Forte announced the August 28, 2026 release date at San Diego Comic-Con, and a public trailer debuted the following spring. Screenings began overseas in the United Kingdom, France, Mexico and Uruguay ahead of the North American opening, while professional reviews reached 95% positive on Rotten Tomatoes.
Opening day brings high audience ratings
Early North American screenings generated $1.7 million before the picture expanded across 3,575 theaters. Polling company CinemaScore surveyed opening-night moviegoers and reported an A grade, marking the highest audience mark in the Looney Tunes film franchise. Research group PostTrak recorded 93% positive feedback and an 82% definite recommendation rate.
Ticket sales deliver record debut for independent distributor
The movie collected about $15.47 million in North America, finishing second at the box office and delivering the largest opening weekend in Ketchup Entertainment's history. Tracker Rentrak reported an additional $8.4 million from 31 international territories, bringing global ticket sales to $23.9 million. The revenue represents a steady opening rather than a runaway blockbuster, leaving profit dependent on future weeks.
Where things stand
Coyote vs. Acme earned an estimated $15.47 million across 3,575 North American theaters during its first weekend, averaging over $4,300 per theater. Rentrak reports that foreign screenings added $8.4 million across 31 territories, lifting total global ticket sales to $23.9 million. This marks the biggest theatrical opening in distributor Ketchup Entertainment's history.
Audience and critical scores are unusually high, but ticket sales have not yet recouped the reported $50 million purchase cost and $10 million marketing budget. Financial success depends on how well ticket sales hold up in September, ongoing international releases, and future home video and streaming sales.