All articles tagged with #looney tunes
A thoughtful review argues Coyote vs. Acme is a surprisingly subversive, emotionally grounded Looney Tunes entry that uses Wile E. Coyote’s trial and a larger corporate conspiracy to critique mega-corporations, delivering sharper themes and genuine heart while noting some worldbuilding gaps; the film works best when the animation speaks for itself and when the Road Runner’s testimony reframes decades of cartoon lore.
Coyote vs. Acme debuted to $15.9 million domestically, finishing second behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day; Warner Bros. invested about $70 million, while Ketchup Entertainment acquired rights for $50 million, giving the IP a lifeline. While strong reviews and an A CinemaScore could help it hold and push toward around $50 million worldwide, the film’s modest opening and uncertain overseas performance keep the future of Looney Tunes cinema projects uncertain, with WB still controlling the IP.
Coyote vs. Acme rides a strong theatrical wave as io9 chats with Will Forte, Lana Condor, John Cena, Erica Bauza, and director Dave Green about the Looney Tunes courtroom caper—Wile E. Coyote sues Acme, Road Runner testifies, and Acme wins, delivering a message of perseverance rather than a pure victory. The film’s release—years after being shelved as a tax write‑off—was propelled by fan campaigns and a $15 million opening weekend, underscoring the “never give up” spirit that carried it to theaters.
After a three-year delay and a tax-write-off shelving, Coyote vs. Acme hits theaters as a Looney Tunes legal satire from Dave Green. Wile E. Coyote enlists Will Forte’s earnest lawyer and Lana Condor to sue Acme, delivering a warm, Roger Rabbit–style homage with plenty of cameos, a Road Runner on the stand, and a bittersweet ending about Toon friendship. It opened around $16 million, with praise for its humor and heart, though critics note it could have pushed bolder themes and benefited from stronger marketing by Warner Bros.
Director Dave Green and team describe a 15-month development path for Coyote Vs. Acme, using animatics and “sketchvis” to pre-visualize how Looney Tunes characters interact with real environments. The film blends 2D and live-action, with the animation driving camera choices and performances; multiple cuts and on-set puppeteering helped preserve the classic Looney Tunes energy while leveraging evolving technology.
Coyote vs. Acme surprised industry expectations by earning about $15.9 million in the U.S. and roughly $24 million worldwide on a reported $70 million budget, aided by a modest $10 million marketing spend from indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment. The piece argues this performance signals renewed audience interest in the Looney Tunes and a potential revival if the franchise receives more sustained support from WB, contrasting past missteps and reboots with the film’s more faithful, genre-driven approach.
Coyote vs. Acme opened to $15.9 million domestic (2nd place) after Warner Bros. attempted to scrap the project for a tax write-off; Ketchup Entertainment’s $50 million rights purchase and lean marketing helped deliver a respectable debut for the $70 million production, aided by strong reviews and an A CinemaScore. While it’s a qualified win for the indie distributor, the Looney Tunes film’s long-term prospects remain uncertain, hinging on overseas performance and the franchise’s uncertain future under Warner Bros. ownership and potential corporate shifts.
Despite strong box office and a Looney Tunes pedigree, Coyote vs. Acme isn’t eligible for Best Animated Feature because fewer than 75% of the film is animated, blocking an Oscar submission in that category. Nevertheless, industry observers expect it to campaign in other Oscar races—such as Adapted Screenplay, Score, and possibly Supporting Actor for Will Forte—as Academy screenings continue ahead of awards season.
A positive review of Coyote vs Acme praises its seamless live-action/animation blend and its focus on Wile E. Coyote and other Looney Tunes characters beyond Bugs Bunny. The piece commends Samy Burch’s script and Eric Bauza’s voice work, arguing the film treats the Looney Tunes as a living world where even Bugs plays a smaller, supporting role. It positions the movie as a potential blueprint for future installments, though it notes box-office success remains uncertain and highlights several meta touches that align the film with Roger Rabbit-like storytelling.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day extends its August dominance with an estimated $22 million weekend, bringing its domestic total to about $891 million and narrowing its gap to The Force Awakens’ unadjusted North American record; Warner Animation Group’s Coyote vs. Acme opens around $13–14 million in 3,573 venues to become its biggest opening and earns glowing early buzz (Rotten Tomatoes 94% critics, 97% audience; CinemaScore A); Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars underperforms with roughly $7 million in its opening weekend amid weak reviews.
At the Coyote vs. Acme premiere, Will Forte says he felt gaslit by its cancellation, but a wave of positive reviews from outlets including Vulture, IndieWire, THR and Deadline is vindicating the project, with critics praising its smart blend of Looney Tunes humor and contemporary concerns.
After Warner Bros. shelved it and later sold it to indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment, the Looney Tunes comedy Coyote vs. Acme finally lands in theaters with an opening-weekend projection of about $14–$16 million; however, screen counts remain undisclosed, leaving its potential box-office impact uncertain without the studio’s marketing muscle.
Box-office analysts see an uphill climb for the long-awaited Looney Tunes feature Coyote vs. Acme, which Warner Bros. Discovery shelved in 2023 and is now being released by indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment. Despite the IP’s enduring appeal and zany premise, industry observers warn of a crowded market, limited marketing bandwidth, and other risks that could complicate a box‑office breakout, though a surprise hit isn’t impossible.
After years in limbo, Coyote vs. Acme finally hits theaters in summer 2026 thanks to a passionate fan push; Will Forte stars as a rookie lawyer in this Looney Tunes hybrid with John Cena as Acme’s attorney, and the LA premiere drew glowing reviews and strong audience buzz—a development Forte says makes him feel sane after feeling gaslit by the wait.
An oral history chronicles how the live-action/animated Looney Tunes film Coyote vs. Acme was shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023 as a $30 million tax write-off, spurring a grassroots effort that helped indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment acquire and revive the project for release; the piece details making Wile E. Coyote sympathetic, on-set puppetry and previs work, the involved cast (Will Forte, Eric Bauza, John Cena, Lana Condor, etc.), and the movie’s dramatic journey from vault to potential big-screen return, underscoring art’s triumph over corporate decision-making.