The weekend box office saw a mix of triumphs and disappointments, with Coyote vs. Acme making a notable debut. The film, which was once shelved by Warner Bros., opened with an estimated $15.5 million marking a significant achievement for Ketchup Entertainment, the indie distributor that revived it.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day continued its dominance, topping the North American box office for the fifth consecutive weekend. The film grossed $22.2 million bringing its worldwide total to an impressive $2.33 billion making it the fourth highest-grossing film of all time.
The Resurgence of Coyote vs. Acme
Coyote vs. Acme a hybrid of live-action and animation, is based on an Ian Frazier New Yorker column. The film stars Will ForteJohn CenaLana Condor and Eric Bauza and is directed by Dave Green. Despite good test screening scores, Warner Bros. initially canceled its release, preferring a tax write-off. However, after an outcry, the studio sold the film to Ketchup Entertainment, which acquired worldwide distribution rights for about $50 million.
The film’s opening weekend was the best ever for Ketchup Entertainment, surpassing the previous high of $3.1 million set by The Day the Earth Blew Up in 2024. While the box office numbers might be considered modest for a $70 million production, the reception was excellent. Moviegoers gave it an “A” CinemaScore and critics were equally enthusiastic, with a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Flop of The Dog Stars
Not all films fared as well. The Dog Stars a Ridley Scott action drama starring Jacob Elordi opened in fifth place with $8 million for 20th Century Studios. The film, about a pilot and German Shepherd surviving a global pandemic, added $11.3 million overseas, a poor result for a production costing between $70 million and $100 million.
The film received lukewarm reviews, sitting at 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences weren’t impressed either, giving it a “C” CinemaScore. This marks Ridley Scott’s sixth straight money loser after films like All the Money in the WorldThe Last Duel and House of Gucci.
Other Box Office Highlights
The Odyssey in its seventh weekend, slid to third place with $14.3 million. The Christopher Nolan movie remains unusually strong overseas, grossing $48.6 million over the weekend. Altogether, the Universal Pictures release has collected $1.55 billion in global sales.
The top 10 movies by domestic box office for the weekend are as follows:
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day$22.2 million
- Coyote vs. Acme$15.5 million
- The Odyssey$14.3 million
- Insidious: Out of the Further$10.1 million
- The Dog Stars$8 million
- Buddy$5.4 million
- The End of Oak Street$5 million
- PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie$4.9 million
- Mutiny$2.8 million
- Tony$2.2 million
The box office landscape continues to evolve, with unexpected successes and notable flops shaping the industry’s narrative.
