“Coyote vs. Acme” — From Tax Write-Off to Theatrical Release

Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the completed live-action/animation hybrid *Coyote vs. Acme* in November 2023, designating it a $30 million tax write-off. After a three-year campaign, independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment bought the film for $50 million and will release it worldwide on August 28, 2026.

'Coyote Vs. Acme' Cost WB $70M, Ketchup Paid $50M For It

Director Dave Green secured a $70 million budget from Warner Bros. in 2020 to adapt Ian Frazier’s 1990 New Yorker satire about Wile E. Coyote suing Acme. The movie mixes live actors—Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, Tone Bell—with Looney Tunes characters voiced by Eric Bauza. Production wrapped in 2022; the original plan was an HBO Max streaming debut.

The Straits Times

• 2020 – Green greenlights the project.

The Guardian

• 2022 – Principal photography completes; $70 million budget confirmed.

'Coyote Vs. Acme' Cost WB $70M, Ketchup Paid $50M For It

• Nov 2023 – Warner Bros. Discovery shelves the finished film.

'Coyote Vs. Acme' Cost WB $70M, Ketchup Paid $50M For It

• 2024-2025 – Fan campaigns and industry support intensify.

Deadline Hollywood

• Mar 2025 – Ketchup Entertainment acquires the film for $50 million.

'Coyote Vs. Acme' Cost WB $70M, Ketchup Paid $50M For It

• Aug 12 2026 – Review embargo lifts; critics respond positively.

IGN Entertainment

• Aug 28 2026 – Scheduled theatrical release worldwide (U.S. and Singapore on Sept 3, 2026).

IGN Entertainment

• Production budget: $70 million (reported) vs. $72 million in some sources.

'Coyote Vs. Acme' Cost WB $70M, Ketchup Paid $50M For It

• Acquisition price: $50 million.

'Coyote Vs. Acme' Cost WB $70M, Ketchup Paid $50M For It

• Rotten Tomatoes: 94 % (31 reviews).

Express Tribune

• Metacritic: 75 points (19 reviews).

Express Tribune

• Composer Steven Price’s promotional clip amassed 6.8 million views.

The Guardian

Director Dave Green called the rescue “a collective triumph.”

Coyote vs. Acme: Will Forte and Dave Green on Its Long Delay

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman called the final product “neutered and tame,” and Tim Grierson said the screenplay is “as faulty as ACME’s crummy contraptions.”

Express Tribune

Fans posted thousands of messages demanding a release. Composer Steven Price’s orchestral clip quickly garnered 6.8 million views, and industry figures such as Phil Lord and Chris Miller endorsed the campaign.

The Guardian

• Budget: $70 million vs. $72 million.

'Coyote Vs. Acme' Cost WB $70M, Ketchup Paid $50M For It

• Critical consensus: Majority positive, but Variety and Screen International offered negative reviews.

Deadline Hollywood

• Distribution details: Post-theatrical plans (Blu-ray, R-rated outtakes) are mentioned by IGN but not confirmed elsewhere.

IGN Entertainment

• “We’ve held on to a lot of hope these past few years,” — Dave Green

The Guardian

• “I still can’t believe it’s happening,” — Dave Green

The Guardian

• “We wanted to make sure that it was never viewed as a failure, that it wasn’t being shelved because it was a bad movie,” — Chris DeFaria

'Coyote Vs. Acme' Cost WB $70M, Ketchup Paid $50M For It

• “The lackluster screenplay proves as faulty as ACME’s crummy contraptions.” — Tim Grierson

Express Tribune

The film opens in U.S. theaters on August 28, 2026 and in Singapore on September 3, 2026. Green has indicated plans for a Blu-ray release and additional R-rated material, extending the rollout beyond the theatrical window.

IGN Entertainment