James Gunn’s new comedy Coyote vs. Acmethat has landed at the top of the streaming charts, and it holds an unusual record along the way. The film is officially streaming’s #1 movie, according to a report from Andy Behbakht, who covers Hollywood for ScreenRant.
The road to this spot was bumpy. Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the film in 2023 for tax write-off purposes, a move that drew heavy criticism in Hollywood. The studio had already wrapped filming on the feature, and the decision came shortly after the DCEU’s Batgirl movie was scrapped mid-post-production.
“Once Ketchup Entertainment managed to land the rights for Gunn’s film, which he produced and worked on the story with Jeremy Slater and Samy Burch, the world finally got to witness the comedy project, directed by Dave Green, that was close to never seeing the light of day.”
Ketchup Entertainment stepped in to acquire the rights, and Gunn, Slater and Samy Burch worked on the story together. Dave Green directs. The film is now streaming, and it has reached the #1 spot.
Gunn’s Post-Marvel Turn
Gunn finished his run with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since then, he has started a new era, including filmmaking and co-running DC Studios with Peter Safran. Since 2024, Gunn has been building out the DC Universe for Warner Bros. Discovery, following the DCEU movie timeline and its decade-long run.
The Shelving Controversy
Coyote vs. Acmethat was one of the big 2026 releases. Its grim fate began when Warner Bros. Discovery shelved it in 2023 for tax write-off purposes, which sparked a lot of controversy in Hollywood. The studio had already wrapped filming on the feature.
The decision came right after the DCEU’s Batgirl movie, which was in the midst of post-production, got scrapped too. That double blow hit the studio’s reputation hard.
Ketchup Entertainment Steps In
Ketchup Entertainment managed to land the rights for Gunn’s film. Gunn produced the project and worked on the story with Jeremy Slater and Samy Burch. Dave Green directs. The film was close to never seeing the light of day.
The acquisition meant the film could finally reach audiences.
The Film’s Run
The film has now reached the #1 spot on streaming charts. Its success is notable because of its troubled production history.
The Quiz Question
Behbakht’s report opens with a quiz about fantasy movies, asking readers to name the snowy owl Harry Potter receives from Hagrid on his eleventh birthday. The correct answer is Hedwig.
What This Means
The film’s success is a vote of confidence in Gunn’s post-Marvel work. After the Guardians trilogy, Gunn has moved to DC, where he co-runs DC Studios with Peter Safran.
The acquisition by Ketchup Entertainment also shows that studios can revive shelved projects. Gunn’s involvement in the story was a key draw.
The Takeaway
Coyote vs. Acmethat is now streaming’s #1 movie. It got there despite being shelved, scrapped, and nearly lost entirely.
That is a remarkable arc for any film. For Gunn, it is a sign that his new era is finding its footing.
The quiz question about Hedwig remains unanswered, but the chart-topping film answers a bigger question: audiences want to watch what Gunn makes, even when studios try to stop it.
See the video the story is built around at Screen Rant.
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