The trailer for Coyote vs. Acme dropped on April 22 and racked up 25.6 million views within its first 24 hours. According to social analytics firm WaveMetrix, that makes it the most-watched trailer launch ever for a family film from an independent studio.
The previous record was held by Angel Studios’ animated feature King of Kings, which opened to $19.3 million at the domestic box office.
The Trailer Takes Direct Shots at Warner Bros.
The trailer isn’t just turning heads for its view count — it’s also making waves for its boldness. The footage frames Acme Corporation as a stand-in for Warner Bros. itself, with the tagline: “The movie Acme doesn’t want you to see.” The line is a direct dig at Warner Bros.’ decision to shelve the fully completed film rather than give it a theatrical release.
What’s the Movie About?
The film is a live-action/animation hybrid based on a 1990 satirical piece in The New Yorker by writer Ian Frazier. It follows Wile E. Coyote as he takes Acme Corporation to court over the defective products that repeatedly backfired on him during his endless pursuit of the Road Runner.
The film was originally developed for HBO Max.
Cast and Characters
Will Forte stars as Kevin Avery, a billboard attorney who takes on Wile E. Coyote as his client. John Cena plays Buddy Crane, the head of Kevin’s former law firm who represents Acme in court. Lana Condor plays Kevin’s niece, while Luis Guzmán steps in as the judge presiding over the trial. P.J. Byrne, Tone Bell, and Martha Kelly round out the live-action cast.
Fan-favorite Looney Tunes characters — including Tweety, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the Road Runner — all appear in cameo roles.
Director and Writer
The film is directed by Dave Green, known for helming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016). The screenplay was written by Samy Burch, who earned an Oscar nomination for her work on May December. The story was developed by Burch alongside Jeremy Slater and James Gunn.
Why Did Warner Bros. Pull the Plug?
In November 2023, under CEO David Zaslav, Warner Bros. made the controversial decision to shelve the film despite it being fully finished. The $70 million production was deemed not worth the print-and-advertising costs required for a theatrical rollout.
The move came during a broader wave of cancellations at the studio — including Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt — where completed projects were written off as tax deductions rather than released.
Warner Bros. eventually reversed course and allowed the filmmakers to shop the project to other distributors.
How Ketchup Entertainment Closed the Deal
After more than a year of searching for a new home, Ketchup Entertainment acquired global rights to the film in 2025 for a reported $50 million. Major players including Paramount and Netflix were also in the mix. Notably, Ketchup had previously pulled off a similar move with another shelved Looney Tunes project, The Day the Earth Blew Up.
The studio gave the film a high-profile showcase at San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H last July, generating significant buzz ahead of the trailer’s release.
Coyote vs. Acme hits theaters August 28, 2026.
