Three years after Warner Bros scrapped the completed film for a tax write off, Coyote vs Acme has opened in second place at the North American box office with an estimated $15.5 million in weekend ticket sales. The Looney Tunes feature film’s journey from cancellation to theatrical release represents one of Hollywood’s most unusual comeback stories.
Warner Bros initially axed the $70 million production in 2023 despite strong test screening scores, choosing instead to claim a tax deduction on the movie originally made for its streaming platform, HBO Max. The studio also shelved Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt using the same strategy. Both films remain unreleased.
Public backlash forced the studio to reverse course. After putting the film up for sale, Ketchup Entertainment acquired worldwide distribution rights for approximately $50 million in early 2025. The hybrid live action and animation feature, directed by Dave Green, stars Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor and Eric Bauza.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day maintained its grip on the top spot for a fifth consecutive weekend, earning $22.2 million domestically. The superhero blockbuster has now accumulated $2.33 billion worldwide, making it the fourth highest grossing film ever. Meanwhile, Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars opened in fifth place with just $8 million, a disappointing result for the $70 million to $100 million production starring Jacob Elordi.
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