Coyote vs. Acme earns $1.7 million in previews, Dog Stars opens with $850,000

Ketchup Entertainment’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Animation’s "Coyote vs. Acme" produced $1.7 million in preview ticket sales, which includes $446,000 from sneak-preview showings in the United States and Canada last weekend. The Dave Green-directed live-action/animated hybrid is projected to earn roughly $15 million over its opening weekend. The film’s marketing and distribution costs are estimated at about $10 million following Ketchup’s $50 million global purchase of the title.

For comparison, Universal/Illumination’s "Migration" earned $1.5 million in previews during a pre-Christmas weekend, leading to a $5.7 million Friday and a $12.4 million three-day total. Warner Bros.’ earlier Looney Tunes release, "Space Jam: A New Legacy," did not receive preview screenings when it debuted in theaters and on HBO Max in July 2021.

"Coyote vs. Acme" holds a 95 percent critic rating and a 92 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, which may support its performance beyond its core fan base.

Ridley Scott’s dystopian thriller "Dog Stars," starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, opened with $850 thousand in previews. Industry estimates suggest the film could reach a $12 million to $14 million opening. The movie, based on Peter Heller’s novel, began showings at 2 p.m. and is sharing IMAX screens with "The Odyssey" and premium-large-format venues with "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." Critics have given the film a 40 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sony/Marvel Studios’ "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" entered its fourth week with a domestic total of $869.2 million, approaching the $900 million milestone. The film is currently running about 5 percent ahead of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" at the same point in its theatrical run. Weekend five is projected to bring in approximately $18 million, a 54 percent decline from the previous weekend.

Roadside Attractions and Saban’s independent release "Buddy," a dark comedy directed by Casper Kelly, earned $777 thousand in previews, including $527 thousand from recent screenings and $250 thousand from limited mystery showings. The R-rated film is playing in 1,258 theaters and stars Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, and features the voice of Patton Oswalt.