🍿 "Coyote vs. Acme" Reclaims the Box Office Following Warner Bros. Controversy

While the blockbuster Spider-Man: A Brand New Day held a firm grip on the top spot, the primary industry intrigue centered around the battle for the remaining positions.

Coyote vs. Acme, a hybrid of animation and live-action, debuted in second place with $15.4 million across 3,575 screens. This marks the biggest opening in history for independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment, which acquired the release rights from Warner Bros. for $50 million after the studio attempted to shelve the completed $70 million project for a tax write-off. Although its opening fell short of the genre’s average ($23.2 million), a stellar 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and an “A” CinemaScore grade ensure strong legs and eventual profitability through digital markets.

The weekend’s biggest flop was Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic drama The Dog Stars from 20th Century Studios. Playing at 3,300 theaters, the film managed just $8 million, marking the 88-year-old director’s worst opening since 2021’s The Last Duel ($4.8 million). A lukewarm critical reception (41% on Rotten Tomatoes) left the project with virtually no chance of building momentum.

Spider-Man: A Brand New Day held the number one spot for a fifth consecutive week ($22.2 million over the weekend). The film’s domestic haul reached $891.5 million, pushing its global tally to $2.332 billion and elevating it to fourth place on the all-time highest-grossing films list. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey took third place with $14.3 million (bringing its U.S. total to $563.8 million), while the horror entry Insidious: Out of the Further claimed fourth with $10.1 million ($43.6 million over two weeks).