Historic Looney Tunes Shorts Removed From HBO Max on Looney Tunes Movie Opening Weekend

Warner Brothers' recent removal of its classic Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max has sent shockwaves through animation fans and cultural critics alike. This decision, impacting nearly 40 years of animation history (1930-1969), represents a significant loss for a streaming service that once boasted these foundational works. Deadline reports the removal is part of a broader shift towards adult and family programming, prioritizing viewership numbers over cultural significance. This mirrors the 2024 cancellation of HBO's Sesame Street deal, highlighting a concerning trend. While some newer Looney Tunes projects remain, the core legacy of the franchise is absent.

This action is particularly jarring given the recent theatrical release of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Story on March 14th. Initially an HBO Max project, the film was sold to Ketchup Entertainment after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The film's modest box office performance ($3 million opening weekend across 2,800 theaters) suggests limited marketing support. The lack of promotion contrasts sharply with the outcry surrounding last year's unreleased Coyote Vs. Acme, a film that garnered significant attention and anger from fans and creators alike, including star Will Forte, who described the decision not to release it as "f—king bulls—t." The current situation leaves many wondering if greater awareness of The Day the Earth Blew Up's theatrical release might have yielded better results.