Could Wile E. Coyote, the long-suffering—not to mention hungry—Looney Tunes villain, get his first win in nearly eight decades? This isn’t to suggest that he will finally catch the Road Runner, of course. Instead, he may catch something more lucrative.
This weekend’s Coyote vs. Acme appears headed for a surprisingly strong domestic opening nearly three years after Warner Bros. attempted to prevent audiences from ever seeing the completed movie.
Wile E. Coyote and Will Forte – Ketchup Entertainment, YouTube
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The live-action and animated hybrid is expected to earn approximately $15 million when it opens in theaters this weekend. Although that amount will not be enough to dethrone Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it would represent an impressive debut for independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment.
According to Deadline, early tracking placed the movie between $7 million and $10 million. However, strong advance ticket sales and approximately $400,000 from preview screenings have prompted exhibitors to raise their projections.
Boxoffice Pro similarly predicts an opening between $10 million and $15 million, potentially allowing Coyote vs. Acme to finish as high as second place.
The movie will face competition from Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Insidious: Out of the Further, and Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is expected to remain in first place for a fifth consecutive weekend with between $18 million and $25 million. However, earlier family releases such as Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters have largely run their course, leaving an opening for Wile E. Coyote.
Warner Bros. Nearly Buried Coyote vs. Acme
The projected opening is particularly notable because Warner Bros. Discovery originally planned to make Coyote vs. Acme permanently unavailable.
In November 2023, Deadline reported that the company had shelved the completed $70 million production and intended to claim a $30 million tax write-down. The decision generated widespread criticism from filmmakers, actors, animation fans, and industry observers. Filming had concluded in 2022, and the movie was scheduled for release on July 21, 2023. That date eventually went to Barbie, which earned $1.4 billion worldwide.
Lana Condor, Wile E. Coyote, and Will Forte – Ketchup Entertainment, YouTube
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Warner Bros. eventually allowed the movie’s producers to seek another distributor. Although Netflix and Paramount reportedly expressed interest, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the global rights for approximately $50 million in March 2025.
The independent distributor subsequently built its marketing campaign around the controversy. An April trailer featuring the tagline “The Movie Acme Doesn’t Want You to See” received 25 million views during its first 24 hours. The movie also made two promotional appearances at San Diego Comic-Con.
Ketchup Entertainment previously distributed 2025’s The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. However, that film opened with only $3.2 million and finished its domestic run with approximately $8.9 million. It also lacked the compelling narrative surrounding Coyote vs. Acme. Many moviegoers may feel compelled to see the latter simply because they were originally told they couldn’t.
Strong Reviews Could Sustain Its Momentum
Turning the film’s release into an event is only the first step. For Coyote vs. Acme to become a success, it must also appeal to audiences unfamiliar with its corporate history. Fortunately, early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising its humor and affection for the Looney Tunes characters.
Scene from Coyote vs. ACME – Ketchup Entertainment, YouTube
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Directed by Dave Green, the movie follows Wile E. Coyote as he hires an attorney to sue the Acme Corporation over its consistently defective products. Will Forte plays Coyote’s lawyer, while John Cena portrays the company’s attorney. Lana Condor also stars.
Whether Coyote vs. Acme can maintain its momentum beyond opening weekend remains uncertain. Nevertheless, a debut near $15 million would demonstrate that Warner Bros. nearly discarded a movie audiences were willing to support—and that another distributor was willing to save.
Will you be seeing Coyote vs. Acme opening weekend? Sound off and let us know!
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