It’s an underdog success story for the ages. Once shelved for a tax write-off, Coyote vs. Acme now has the last laugh, racking up over US$100 million at the global box office after making history as the biggest debut ever for indie production house Ketchup Entertainment.
The live-action/animation hybrid film was acquired for US$50 million by the latter, which had similarly saved 2024’s The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, its previous best performer. As it stands, it has surpassed major titles such as Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic drama The Dog Stars (US$38 million), featuring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, and Guy Pearce, and could topple Amazon-MGM’s Masters of the Universe (US$114 million) if the momentum keeps up.
The milestone is much-deserved redemption for Coyote vs. Acme, especially since its cancellation followed a highly positive early reception. It drew attention and backlash because the film was already completed — it certainly helped that DC Studios co-head James Gunn has a story credit — with several other finished projects, including Batgirl, also subjected to the same unfortunate treatment.
There’s a level of poetic irony, too, as the Dave Green-directed feature revolves around fighting back against corporate conglomerates. In it, Wile E. Coyote enlists a billboard attorney to sue Acme Corporation for repeatedly selling him faulty products on his never-ending quest to catch the Road Runner, bringing the 1990 New Yorker article that imagines a legal case against Acme to the big screen.
Joining Eric Bauza as the voice of multiple Looney Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are Saturday Night Live alumnus Will Forte, Alita: Battle Angel‘s Lana Condor and John Cena. It opened in theatres on 28 August, almost three years after its planned debut, and may potentially campaign in the Best Animated Feature category for the next Oscars.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
