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

Warner Brothers has made the shocking decision to remove its entire catalog of original Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max, a move that has left fans and animation enthusiasts reeling. These iconic shorts, produced between 1930 and 1969, are considered a cornerstone of the "golden age" of animation and were instrumental in building the Warner Brothers brand.

According to Deadline, this removal is part of a broader strategy to focus on adult and family programming, as children's content has not been a significant draw for the streaming service. This shift in priorities has led to the exclusion of culturally significant material, including the cancellation of new episodes of Sesame Street at the end of 2024, a show that has been pivotal in childhood education since 1969. While some newer Looney Tunes spinoffs remain available on HBO Max, the essence of the franchise has been stripped away.

The timing of this decision is particularly puzzling, 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 following the Warner Brothers and Discovery merger. With a limited marketing budget, the film managed to earn just over $3 million during its opening weekend across more than 2,800 theaters nationwide.

The recent controversy surrounding the shelving of "Coyote Vs. Acme," another completed Looney Tunes film, has only added to the public's frustration. Warner Brothers Discovery chose not to release the film due to distribution costs, a decision that has been met with widespread criticism from the artistic community. Actor Will Forte, who starred in the film, described the decision as "f—king bulls—t" and expressed his fury over the choice, calling it both inexplicable and infuriating.

This series of events suggests a troubling trend for the future of beloved animation franchises, leaving fans to wonder what will become of the legacy of Looney Tunes.