Buyer Database · Specialty Distributor · Updated
Ketchup Entertainment
Ketchup Entertainment is a boutique distributor specializing in beloved IP and shelved studio films, currently making headlines by giving "Coyote vs. Acme" a theatrical second life.
Current mandate
Ketchup Entertainment has carved out a distinctive niche in the boutique distribution landscape by targeting completed films that major studios have shelved, often as tax write-offs, and returning them to audiences through theatrical and other release windows. The company's most high-profile move to date is its acquisition of "Coyote vs. Acme," a live-action/animated hybrid that Warner Bros. had shelved, which Ketchup acquired from V10 Entertainment in what trade coverage described as a major expansion move. The film is now scheduled for a theatrical release on August 28, 2026, a date announced at a San Diego Comic-Con panel that drew significant industry attention.
The acquisition pattern Ketchup has established centers on animation and animation-adjacent content with pre-existing fan communities. The company previously distributed "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie," which had originally been destined for HBO Max/Max before Ketchup stepped in to give it a theatrical platform. Both titles share a common thread: beloved IP with passionate fan bases that studios had deprioritized, but that Ketchup believed could sustain grassroots, community-driven marketing campaigns. The Comic-Con activation for "Coyote vs. Acme," which featured meta-humor about Warner Bros. and an in-character "Acme lawyer" bit, exemplifies the company's approach to fan engagement as a core distribution strategy.
Material appears to reach Ketchup primarily through sales agents and intermediary rights holders, as both documented acquisitions involved third-party deal structures rather than direct filmmaker outreach. CEO Gareth West has publicly articulated the company's taste profile, stating a preference for "ambitious, original animated stor[ies] with a strong cinematic identity and an outstanding cast," which signals the kinds of projects that attract executive attention. No open submission portal or named public program is documented in available coverage.
Signature peaks
- Coyote vs. Acme Studio Shelved IP Play — Acquired from V10 Entertainment after Warner Bros. shelved it as a tax write-off, now set for theatrical release.
- 2 Titles Looney Tunes Track Record — Ketchup has distributed two Looney Tunes-adjacent films, establishing a pattern with beloved animated IP.
- Comic-Con Activation Fan-Driven Marketing — San Diego Comic-Con panel for Coyote vs. Acme featured in-character meta-humor, signaling grassroots community strategy.
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- animation, family, comedy, live-action/animation hybrid
- Territory focus
- worldwide
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Both documented acquisitions reached Ketchup through intermediary rights holders and sales structures: "Coyote vs. Acme" came via V10 Entertainment, and "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" transitioned from a studio streaming arrangement. No unsolicited submission pathway is documented in available coverage.
- Deal structure
- Ketchup Entertainment acquires distribution rights to completed films, including titles shelved by major studios, and releases them theatrically and across other windows on a worldwide basis; the "Coyote vs. Acme" deal was structured as a content acquisition from an intermediary rights holder rather than a direct studio transaction.
Recent acquisitions
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Coyote vs. Acme
Ketchup Entertainment acquires Coyote vs. Acme from V10 Entertainment in major expansion move
Market context
By acquiring "Coyote vs. Acme" from Warner Bros.' discard pile, Ketchup Entertainment has positioned itself as the boutique distributor that turns studio write-offs into theatrical events.
Aligns with the growing trend of studios shelving completed films for tax write-offs, creating an opportunity for boutique distributors to acquire and release high-quality content at lower cost; also aligns with fan-driven marketing and grassroots community engagement strategies.
Common questions about Ketchup Entertainment
Does Ketchup Entertainment accept unsolicited scripts?
No unsolicited submission pathway is documented in available trade coverage. Both of Ketchup's tracked acquisitions, 'Coyote vs. Acme' and 'The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,' arrived through intermediary rights holders and sales structures rather than direct filmmaker outreach. The most practical route for unrepresented writers is to secure representation or a producer attachment before approaching the company.
What budget level does Ketchup Entertainment work with?
Ketchup operates at a range that can reach significant scale when the opportunity is right. The acquisition of 'Coyote vs. Acme' was described in trade coverage as a $50 million deal, reflecting the company's willingness to pursue high-profile shelved studio content. Their model benefits from acquiring completed films, often at a discount to original production cost, rather than financing productions from scratch.
What festivals does Ketchup Entertainment source films from?
Trade coverage does not document a consistent festival acquisition circuit for Ketchup Entertainment. Their tracked deals have centered on completed studio films that were shelved before release rather than festival discoveries. The company did use San Diego Comic-Con as a major marketing platform for 'Coyote vs. Acme,' suggesting fan conventions may play a role in their release strategy, though not necessarily as a sourcing venue.
How do I get my script or film in front of Ketchup Entertainment?
Every tracked deal at Ketchup has moved through sales agents or intermediary rights holders. CEO Gareth West has publicly described the company's taste: 'ambitious, original animated stor[ies] with a strong cinematic identity and an outstanding cast.' Filmmakers with animation or animation-adjacent projects tied to beloved IP would be best positioned to approach through a sales agent or entertainment attorney who can connect with the company's acquisitions team.
What genres is Ketchup Entertainment currently acquiring?
Ketchup's documented acquisitions focus on animation and animation-adjacent content, particularly projects built around beloved IP with passionate fan communities. Both tracked titles, 'Coyote vs. Acme' (animation/comedy) and 'The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,' fit this profile. The company's stated mandate also includes underdog or challenger properties and shelved studio films with commercial potential, suggesting a broader openness to high-quality completed content that has been overlooked.
Is Ketchup Entertainment currently active in the market?
Yes. Ketchup's most recent major signal dates to mid-2026, with the theatrical release of 'Coyote vs. Acme' set for August 28, 2026, following a high-profile San Diego Comic-Con panel. The company's acquisition of that title from V10 Entertainment was described as a major expansion move, and ScriptMatch tracks 22 total records for the company over the past 12 months, indicating sustained market activity.
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