Looney Tunes Shorts Removed from HBO Max Amid Movie Premiere

The phrase "that's all, folks" might sting a bit too much at this moment, as Warner Brothers has made the shocking decision to pull its entire collection of classic Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max. These iconic animations, which were produced from 1930 to 1969, represent a "golden age" of animation and played a pivotal role in establishing Warner Brothers' legacy.

According to Deadline, this move is part of a broader strategy to focus on adult and family programming, sidelining children's content due to its lower viewership numbers. This decision seems to overlook the immense cultural significance of the Looney Tunes shorts. It's worth noting that at the end of 2024, HBO also ended its partnership with Sesame Street, a cornerstone of childhood education since 1969. While newer Looney Tunes spinoffs still remain available on HBO Max, the essence of the franchise has been removed.

This decision comes at an odd time, coinciding with the theatrical release of "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Story" on March 14. Initially commissioned by Max, the project was sold to Ketchup Entertainment through the American Film Market following the Warner Brothers and Discovery merger. The film, distributed by a smaller company with a limited marketing budget, has only managed to earn slightly over $3 million during its opening weekend across more than 2,800 theaters nationwide.

The public's reaction to the handling of last year's "Coyote Vs. Acme," which Warner Brothers Discovery chose not to release despite its completion due to high distribution costs, suggests that there would be significant interest in "The Day the Earth Blew Up" if more people were aware of its availability in theaters. The decision not to release "Coyote Vs. Acme" sparked widespread criticism from the artistic community and animation enthusiasts. In February, actor Will Forte described the decision as "f—king bulls—t," expressing his frustration and anger over what he saw as an inexplicable choice.