Warner Bros. axed ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ three years ago to take a tax write off. But it’s finally in theaters after a public outcry—and a box office hit

Three years ago, Warner Bros. abandoned plans to release "Coyote vs. Acme," a Looney Tunes feature film. The decision was driven by the studio's desire to claim a tax write-off for the movie, which had been produced for their streaming service, HBO Max. "Coyote vs. Acme," based on an Ian Frazier New Yorker column, tells the story of Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation for its defective products.

The film, a blend of live-action and animation, stars Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, and Eric Bauza. Despite receiving positive test screening scores, Warner Bros. opted to terminate its release. However, after public outcry, the studio placed the film up for sale. Ketchup Entertainment acquired worldwide distribution rights for approximately $50 million.

The film's debut came as a victory for its creators. Director Dave Green expressed his satisfaction on social media, stating, "‘Coyote vs. Acme’ is finally, gloriously, in theaters now. Which means one thing. WE WON." The film received favorable reviews and audience scores. Moviegoers rated it with an "A" CinemaScore, and critics were equally enthusiastic, with a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Although the opening weekend may have been a disappointment for a $70 million movie, "Coyote vs. Acme" outperformed other recent releases. The film topped the box office for the fifth consecutive weekend, earning an estimated $15.5 million. "The Dog Stars," an action drama starring Jacob Elordi, opened in fifth place with $8 million, marking a poor performance for 20th Century Studios. The Odyssey, a Christopher Nolan film, held third place with $14.3 million.