Coyote vs Acme proves its worth at #2 Box Office
Some movies are built on hope, others on spreadsheets. The improbable success of Coyote vs. Acme proves that sometimes, the most anticipated projects are simply waiting for the right moment to strike. This Looney Tunes hybrid finally found its audience, landing a respectable top-five finish that silenced every doubter who once shelved the project.
The theatrical debut this weekend was a major coup, grossing an estimated $15.5 million domestically. This achievement places the film firmly in the competitive landscape, debuting in second place behind Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day. For context, the behemoth behind the scenes earned $22 million in its fifth weekend, accumulating an astonishing $891 million in its domestic total.
The opening frame played across 3,575 theaters, demonstrating the appetite for classic animation mixed with modern execution. This $15.5 million haul represents the largest opening in Ketchup Entertainment’s history by a significant margin, establishing a strong foothold for the studio.
It outperformed several other cinematic contenders, managing to stay ahead of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which collected $14.3 million in its seventh weekend. Other contenders in the top tier included Sony’s Insidious: Out of the Further and Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars, which brought in $10.1 million and $8 million, respectively.
The path to the big screen was anything but smooth. Warner Bros. had controversially shelved the completed film in November 2023, opting for a tax write-off. However, Ketchup Entertainment was not deterred. They swooped in, acquiring the worldwide rights for a reported $50 million, followed by an additional $10 million investment in marketing, transforming a shelved concept into a box office reality.
The creative team behind the spectacle is impressive. Director Dave Green helmed the adaptation, starring Will Forte as the perpetually struggling attorney representing Wile E. Coyote. The cast also features some recognizable names, including John Cena, Lana Condor, and Tone Bell, bringing a fresh energy to the familiar, anarchic narrative inspired by Ian Frazier’s story.
With a production budget hovering between $70 million and $72 million, the film’s success is a testament to the power of a compelling, well-marketed vision. Critically, the film has garnered significant praise, boasting a 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a strong 77 on Metacritic.
While the domestic gross stood at $15.5 million, the worldwide total mirrors this figure, with international numbers yet to be fully reported. Considering the theater retention rate, the studio estimates its break-even point to be around $120 million, underscoring the enormous potential that has now been realized.
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