How a Finished Looney Tunes Movie Got Buried
Believe it or not, this cartoon caper was already in the can back in 2022 — then disappeared from the release calendar. Warner Bros. quietly pulled the plug in 2023 and treated the picture like a tax casualty, the same fate that briefly befell other projects. Fans and folks in the biz were baffled: why bury a completed movie?
The studio flip-flop that started the drama
Director Dave Green’s take on the classic cartoons, starring Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor, went from “coming soon” to never-to-be-seen with a corporate shrug. The retraction sparked a loud reaction online and off, and the film’s future looked bleak — until someone else waved a flag.
Enter the underdog: Ketchup Entertainment
Small distributor, big move. Ketchup Entertainment picked up the rights and set a U.S. release date for August 28, 2026. The once-shelved Warner project suddenly had a second life and a chance to prove it belonged on screens, not spreadsheets.
The surprisingly cozy opening weekend
Flash forward to opening weekend: Coyote vs. Acme hauled in about $15.5 million across the U.S. and Canada and slotted in at number two at the box office, trailing the latest Spider-Man. For Ketchup, it’s a milestone — their biggest opening to date.
Critics and crowds didn’t just shrug — they cheered
Even more shocking than the box office: critics liked it. The film is sitting with a very high Rotten Tomatoes score, and audiences rewarded it with an “A” CinemaScore. Clearly, whatever studio politics almost buried it didn’t ruin the movie’s charm.
Why this matters beyond the gags
Beyond the slapstick and Looney Tunes nostalgia, the film’s comeback is a reminder that distribution choices can make or break a finished movie. Fans won this round — and the Coyote that was written off got to chase his anvil-induced destiny after all.
What’s next?
Whether Coyote vs. Acme keeps momentum is still an open question. It’s off to a promising start, but box office runs and word-of-mouth will decide the legacy. As for international fans, France is still waiting on an official release date — so patience, French cinephiles.