NEW YORK (AP) — After a three-year hiatus, Warner Bros.' animated feature film, "Coyote vs. Acme," has finally hit theaters, thanks to Ketchup Entertainment. It debuted with an estimated $15.5 million in ticket sales over the weekend, marking a significant moment for the film that had once been shelved.
Meanwhile, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" continued its strong performance at the North American box office, earning $22.2 million over the weekend. This brings its total global sales to an impressive $2.33 billion, solidifying its position as the fourth highest-grossing film of all time.
"Coyote vs. Acme" managed to outperform other new releases, securing the second position at the box office. Its success is particularly notable considering that the Ridley Scott film "The Dog Stars," featuring actor Jacob Elordi, opened in fifth place, grossing only $8 million for 20th Century Studios. In addition to its domestic earnings, "The Dog Stars" brought in $11.3 million internationally, a disappointing figure given its production budget of between $70 million and $100 million.
The path to releasing "Coyote vs. Acme" has been rocky. Originally produced for HBO Max, Warner Bros. opted to cancel its release in 2023, choosing instead to take a tax write-off for the completed film. The studio also shelved other films like "Batgirl" and "Scoob! Holiday Haunt," both of which remain unreleased. In response to public demand, the studio placed "Coyote vs. Acme" up for sale, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Ketchup Entertainment for about $50 million.
The film, inspired by an article from Ian Frazier's "Shouts and Murmurs" column in The New Yorker, centers on Wile E. Coyote as he sues the Acme Corporation for its unreliable products. The cast includes notable names such as Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, and Eric Bauza. Directed by Dave Green, the film blends live-action with animation and reflects a significant turnaround for a project that was once set aside.
Despite the challenges, "Coyote vs. Acme" received positive reviews and audience scores, racking up an "A" CinemaScore. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film scored an impressive 95% fresh rating, showcasing a warm reception from both critics and moviegoers. Although the opening weekend take might seem modest for a film with a $70 million budget, it stands as the best-ever opening for Ketchup Entertainment, surpassing their previous high of $3.1 million set by "The Day the Earth Blew Up" in 2024.
Box office analyst David A. Gross remarked that while the opening numbers for "Coyote vs. Acme" are fair, the excellent reception indicates strong potential for future revenue, particularly in ancillary markets targeting children's viewing habits.
In addition to these newcomers, "The Odyssey" continued to perform well in its seventh weekend, slipping to third place with $14.3 million. It remains notably strong internationally, where it garnered $48.6 million, bringing its total global earnings to $1.55 billion.
The domestic box office rankings for the weekend, reflecting estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, are as follows:
1. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," $22.2 million.
2. "Coyote vs. Acme," $15.5 million.
3. "The Odyssey," $14.3 million.
4. "Insidious: Out of the Further," $10.1 million.
5. "The Dog Stars," $8 million.
6. "Buddy," $5.4 million.
7. "The End of Oak Street," $5 million.
8. "PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie," $4.9 million.
9. "Mutiny," $2.8 million.
10. "Tony," $2.2 million.
Overall, the weekend saw a mix of successes and challenges for various films, with the box office landscape continuing to evolve dramatically.
