After nearly being shelved, Coyote vs. Acme finally reached cinemas, earning an estimated €13.3 million in North America during the final weekend of August 2026.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day maintained its position at the top of the box office for a fifth consecutive weekend, earning approximately €19.1 million.

Spider-Man Reaches New Heights

Spider-Man: Brand New Day continued its impressive theatrical performance, bringing its worldwide earnings to approximately €2 billion by the end of August.

The superhero adventure became the fourth highest-grossing film in cinema history, without adjusting for inflation. Its sustained popularity demonstrated its ability to attract audiences well beyond its opening weeks, even as major new releases entered cinemas.

A Second Chance For Coyote

The story behind Coyote vs. Acme is almost as unusual as its fictional premise. In 2023, Warner Bros. cancelled the completed film, reportedly intending to use it as a tax write-off. The decision attracted widespread criticism, particularly because the production had received positive reactions during test screenings.

The film eventually received another opportunity when independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment acquired its worldwide distribution rights for approximately €43 million.

Directed by Dave Green, the comedy combines live-action performances with animation. Its story follows Wile E. Coyote as he takes the Acme Corporation to court over the defective products that have repeatedly undermined his elaborate attempts to catch the Road Runner.

Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor star alongside Eric Bauza, who voices Wile E. Coyote.

Audiences Welcome The Comeback

The film's estimated €13.3 million opening placed it second at the North American box office and represented a significant achievement for its independent distributor.

Despite a production budget of approximately €60 million, the comedy delivered Ketchup Entertainment's biggest opening weekend to date.

It comfortably surpassed the distributor's previous record, set by another Looney Tunes production, The Day the Earth Blew Up, which opened with approximately €2.7 million in 2024.

Audience reception was particularly encouraging. CinemaScore respondents awarded the film an A, while its initial Rotten Tomatoes critics' rating reached 95%.

Box office analyst David A. Gross suggested that favourable audience reactions could support the film's performance beyond cinemas, particularly through subsequent home-viewing releases.

Mixed Results For New Releases

Other films experienced very different fortunes during the same weekend. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey remained commercially strong in its seventh weekend, earning approximately €12.3 million domestically and another €41.7 million internationally.

Its worldwide total reached around €1.33 billion, reflecting its continued appeal outside North America.

Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi, had a more difficult opening. The post-apocalyptic drama collected approximately €6.9 million domestically against a reported production budget of €60–86 million.

More Than An Opening Weekend

The contrasting results illustrate the unpredictable nature of theatrical releases. Established franchises continue to generate substantial revenue, while original productions and unusual adaptations face different commercial challenges.

For Coyote vs. Acme, reaching cinemas was itself an important milestone after years of uncertainty. Its opening weekend and enthusiastic reception demonstrated that a previously cancelled production could still find an appreciative audience.

The film's theatrical comeback also highlighted the potential value of giving unconventional projects a second opportunity, particularly when audience interest remains strong despite the obstacles encountered during production and distribution.