Ketchup Entertainment

Ketchup Entertainment, stylized as ketchup. entertainment, is an American independent film production and distribution company founded in 2011 by Gareth West and Alison Black. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company initially focused on acquiring niche genre films before expanding into major theatrical releases. Its defining strategy emerged in 2024, when it began rescuing high-profile shelved projects from major studios, most notably acquiring Coyote vs. Acme from Warner Bros. after the studio had written it off for tax purposes. That acquisition, along with the successful release of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie later that year, positioned Ketchup as a distinctive player in the independent film landscape.

The company operates as a full-service independent studio, handling film production, theatrical distribution, home entertainment, and acquisitions. Its recent releases include Robert Rodriguez's psychological thriller Hypnotic (2023), the Liam Neeson-led action drama Memory (2023), and the dark fantasy reboot Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024). Ketchup's upcoming slate for 2025-2026 features the animated environmental adventure Ozi: Voice of the Forest, the comedy Christmas Karma, and the live-action/animation hybrid Coyote vs. Acme, a project that has drawn significant industry attention.

Ketchup's brand identity plays on its name: the company positions itself as the "condiment" that makes films more palatable to audiences, and its marketing emphasizes an underdog narrative of saving films from corporate scrap heaps. This approach has resonated with filmmakers and fans, though it has also drawn scrutiny. Industry analysts have questioned the financial viability of releasing a $70 million project like Coyote vs. Acme through a small independent distributor, but Ketchup has not publicly addressed those concerns. The company remains privately held by West and Black, with estimated annual revenue between $20 million and $50 million. It competes with other mid-tier independent distributors such as A24, Neon, Lionsgate, and Saban Films, and maintains international distribution partnerships in the UK, Australia, and Canada.[edit]