Coyote vs. Acme Races to $15.5M Debut as Spider-Man Holds Top Spot

Three years after Warner Bros. shelved the completed film, "Coyote vs. Acme" finally reached theaters, debuting with an estimated $15.5 million in North American ticket sales over the weekend. The Looney Tunes hybrid feature, rescued by indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment, landed in second place — the strongest opening among all new releases.

Meanwhile, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" continued its box-office dominance, holding the No. 1 spot for a fifth consecutive weekend with $22.2 million in U.S. and Canadian earnings. The Marvel blockbuster has now amassed $2.33 billion worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing film in history.

The weekend's other notable debut was "The Dog Stars," a Ridley Scott action drama starring Jacob Elordi. The pandemic-survival tale opened in fifth place with just $8 million domestically and $11.3 million overseas — a disappointing result for a film reportedly costing between $70 million and $100 million.

"Coyote vs. Acme" had a particularly unusual path to the big screen. Warner Bros. canceled its release in 2023, opting for a tax write-off on the $70 million production, which was originally intended for HBO Max. The studio similarly shelved "Batgirl" and "Scoob! Holiday Haunt," both of which remain unreleased. After public outcry, Warner put the film up for sale, and Ketchup acquired worldwide rights for roughly $50 million early last year.

Based on an Ian Frazier New Yorker column, the film follows Wile E. Coyote as he sues Acme Corporation over its faulty products. Directed by Dave Green, it stars Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, and Eric Bauza. Audience response has been strong, with an "A" CinemaScore and a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

For director Green, the release itself was the victory. "'Coyote vs. Acme' is finally, gloriously, in theaters now," he wrote on social media Friday. "Which means one thing. WE WON."

The opening marked a record for Ketchup Entertainment, surpassing the $3.1 million debut of 2024's "The Day the Earth Blew Up," another Warner-produced Looney Tunes castoff. Box office analyst David A. Gross noted the film's strong reception should drive ancillary revenue, particularly in home viewing.

Elsewhere, "The Odyssey" slipped to third place in its seventh weekend with $14.3 million domestically, though it remains a global powerhouse with $48.6 million overseas this weekend. The Christopher Nolan epic has collected $1.55 billion worldwide.

Rounding out the top five were "Insidious: Out of the Further" in fourth with $10.1 million, followed by "The Dog Stars." The rest of the top ten included "Buddy" ($5.4M), "The End of Oak Street" ($5M), "PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie" ($4.9M), "Mutiny" ($2.8M), and "Tony" ($2.2M).