Looney Tunes Shorts Pulled from HBO Max Amid Movie Release

Warner Brothers has made a heart-wrenching decision by pulling its entire catalog of original Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max, a move that leaves fans devastated. These iconic shorts, which ran from 1930 to 1969, represent the "golden age" of animation and have been instrumental in shaping Warner Brothers into the powerhouse it is today.

According to Deadline, this drastic action is part of Warner Brothers' strategy to focus on adult and family programming. The company has determined that children's programming does not draw sufficient viewership, leading to this shift in priorities. This decision comes despite the cultural significance of the Looney Tunes, as evidenced by HBO's cancellation of its deal with Sesame Street at the end of 2024, a show that has been a cornerstone of childhood education since 1969. While newer Looney Tunes spinoffs still remain on HBO Max, the essence of the franchise has been removed.

The timing of this move is peculiar, coinciding with the theatrical release of "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Story" on March 14. Originally commissioned by Max, the film was sold to Ketchup Entertainment through the American Film Market following the Warner Brothers and Discovery merger. With a limited marketing budget, the movie has only managed to earn slightly over $3 million during its opening weekend across more than 2,800 theaters nationwide.

The outcry over last year's treatment of "Coyote Vs. Acme" suggests that there would be strong interest in "The Day the Earth Blew Up" if audiences were aware of its availability in theaters. Warner Brothers Discovery's choice to shelve "Coyote Vs. Acme" last year, despite its completion, due to distribution costs, has been met with widespread criticism. In February, actor Will Forte condemned the decision as "f—king bulls—t," expressing his frustration and anger over the studio's choice not to release the film.