Thursday Box Office: 'Coyote vs. Acme' and 'Dog Stars' Post Strong Previews
Ketchup Entertainment's 'Coyote vs. Acme' took in $1.7 million from Thursday previews and prior sneaks, heading for a possible $15 million weekend. Ridley Scott's 'Dog Stars' earned $850,000 in its first day, with projections of a $12-14 million opening. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' continues its run, nearing $870 million domestically.
Ketchup Entertainment’s acquisition of *Coyote vs. Acme* for $50 million, with a modest $10 million marketing push, appears to be paying off early. The film’s $1.7 million preview haul includes $446,000 from prior weekend sneaks, and its projected $15 million opening would match the preview earnings of 2016’s *Zootopia*—though that film had far larger promotional backing. A closer modern comparison is *Migration*, which turned $1.5 million in previews into a $12.4 million three-day debut.
*Dog Stars*, Ridley Scott’s dystopian thriller starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, opened with $850,000 on its first day, targeting a $12–14 million weekend. Meanwhile, *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* added $53.3 million in its fourth week, reaching $869.2 million domestically—5% ahead of *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* at the same point, and just $30.8 million shy of becoming the first film to cross $900 million domestically.
This weekend’s box office could signal shifting audience appetites: a rescued studio film and a mid-budget sci-fi drama are competing against a superhero juggernaut, suggesting that diverse, non-franchise fare may still find footing. For theaters, strong previews from *Coyote vs. Acme* and *Dog Stars* may ease reliance on blockbusters, while *Spider-Man*’s record chase could reinforce the enduring draw of established IP. Consumers benefit from more varied choices, but sustained success depends on word-of-mouth beyond opening weekend.