From discard to dominance: Coyote vs. Acme out-earns major summer releases

After a rocky road to release, Coyote vs. Acme is drawing real crowds. The live-action /animation mash-up opened at No. 2 domestically with $15.5 million, then kept its footing through the week for a $22.5 million seven-day total. It trailed “Spider- Man: Brand New Day ” on opening weekend but has held the runner-up slot as word of mouth builds.

Opened to $15.5 million — the biggest weekend in Ketchup Entertainment ’s history.

From write-off to wide release

Warner Bros. infamously shelved the completed film in November 2023 for a tax write-off, sparking backlash that pushed the studio to let the filmmakers shop it elsewhere. Indie outfit Ketchup Entertainment stepped in, acquiring U.S. distribution for roughly $50 million and sending the movie into theaters this summer. The project itself cost about $70 million to make.

The debut didn’t just put the movie back on the map — it smashed Ketchup’s prior opening-weekend best, which was $3.1 million for “The Day the Earth Blew Up” in 2024.

What the movie is

Based on Ian Frazier’s satirical essay “Coyote v. Acme,” the film blends Looney Tunes chaos with a modern courtroom comedy. Wile E. Coyote finally sues the ACME Corporation — with help from a personal-injury lawyer — for decades of defective gizmos that blew up in his face while chasing the Road Runner.

Here’s who made it:

• Dave Green — director
• Samy Burch — screenplay, from a story co-developed with James Gunn and Jeremy Slater
• James Gunn — producer under the Troll Court Entertainment banner

And here’s who’s in it:

• Will Forte
• Lana Condor
• John Cena
• Luis Guzmán
• Martha Kelly

While it hasn’t grabbed the top spot, “Coyote vs. Acme” has consistently finished second since opening — including that first weekend behind “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” — and reached $22.5 million domestic in its first seven days in theaters.