‘Coyote Vs. Acme’ Crosses $50 Million Milestone At Domestic Box Office

Coyote vs. Acme has crossed $50 million at the domestic box office, a significant, if symbolic, milestone for a film Warner Bros. once tried to lock away for good.

Ketchup Entertainment’s live-action and animated feature earned $434,090 on Thursday, bringing its domestic total to $50,304,066 after 21 days in theaters, according to Box Office Mojo. It ranked fifth for the day.

Warner Bros. shelved the completed film in 2023, sparking an outcry from filmmakers, artists, and animation fans. Ketchup later acquired its worldwide distribution rights for a reported $50 million. The film’s North American ticket sales alone have now passed that reported price.

That comparison is symbolic, not a break-even calculation. Theaters keep a share of ticket sales, while Ketchup has release and marketing costs. But domestic theaters are only part of the picture. Comscore estimated the film had earned $82.8 million worldwide through last weekend, with several territories still to open. Its worldwide rights also give Ketchup opportunities to earn revenue after the theatrical run, though the terms of any future deals are not public.

And even if the Dave Green-directed film never proves profitable, its release was worth fighting for. A finished film is the culmination of hundreds of artists’ work, and focusing only on profits commoditizes art and culture in an ugly way. Coyote vs Acme‘s value cannot be limited to numbers on a balance sheet, or by one company’s decision that audiences should never get to see it.