Legion M, a crowd-sourced, fan-driven film company, is expanding its film fund to $5 million after helping secure a strong US box office opening for Coyote vs. Acme, the animated feature Warner Bros. Discovery had shelved before it was rescued by distributor Ketchup Entertainment amid public backlash. The move raises Legion M's profile in the specialty film distribution business, giving it more capital to invest directly in future theatrical releases identified with the help of its shareholder community.

Coyote vs. Acme opened to $15.9 million, finishing second at the domestic box office, buoyed by social media buzz over its earlier cancellation. Since launching the fund in January, thousands of Legion M shareholders have invested more than $2.5 million across three releases — Fackham Hall, Nimrods and Coyote vs. Acme, whose allocation sold out within 48 hours. CEO Paul Scanlan said the expanded fund gives the company "more firepower" to back films quickly, with Legion M currently scouting new titles at the Toronto Film Festival.