In a world full of money hungry studios, no movie is safe, even if the product is finished. Three completed films have fallen victim to Warner Brothers’s tax write-offs under CEO David Zaslav. The first were Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt in 2022, and then Coyote vs. Acme in 2023. However, unlike the first two, this long awaited Looney Tunes live-action and animated hybrid is finally seeing the light of day three years later. It is all thanks to the support and dedication of hardcore fans who rallied to get this film released.
Wile E. Coyote has famously been chasing the Road Runner since 1949, but has never been able to catch him. It doesn’t help that Wile relies solely on the unreliable products of the Acme Corporation for his plans, which usually result in him falling into a canyon, getting blown up or squished like a bug. Down on his luck and fed up with his failures, Wile has had enough. After seeing an ad for billboard lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte), he contacts his firm and hires Kevin to help him sue the Acme Corporation. Along with the help of Kevin’s niece Paige (Lana Condor) who is fresh out of law school, Wile and Kevin try to build a case, but they are no match for the greedy and powerful company. Up against big shot lawyer Buddy Crane (John Cena), the team begin to unravel a conspiracy behind Acme that reveals corruption targeting many other cartoons.
It is a true miracle that Coyote vs. Acme is getting a theatrical release, and thank GOSH for that, because this is without a doubt one of the best films of 2026. In a world full of AI and soulless slop, it is such a breath of fresh air to see something made with such passionate artistry and intelligent storytelling, despite being based on such a well known property. The film will have audiences roaring with laughter from start to finish, with a witty script and clever visual gags that run at almost every second. A rewatch would be essential in order to fully appreciate every little detail. The mix of 2D animation and live-action footage has never felt so seamless and natural, with the animated characters feeling like they are a concrete part of the human world and really there with Forte, Condor and Cena. The hand drawn animation is a welcome throwback and something that has been severely missed on the big screen, echoing the likes of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
For Looney Tunes fans, it has everything one would want; excessive slapstick, visual playfulness and of course, the characters you know and love. Wile E. Coyote finally gets his due with a surprisingly heartfelt arc and leading role, but there is still plenty to satisfy fans of every Looney Tunes character. Memorable appearances are made by Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety Bird and more (most of them voiced by Eric Bauza), and all of them are nostalgic without feeling forced (looking at you, Space Jam: A New Legacy). There is one particular scene featuring a tense Breaking Bad-esque desert confrontation between Tweety and John Cena that is pure comedy gold.
How Warner Brothers ever thought it was okay to shelve this film is an absolute mystery. Maybe it hit a little too close to home, with the film being so self-aware and anti-corporate. Regardless, it is an absolute win that Coyote vs. Acme is out in the world. It is the most fun you’ll have in a cinema this year and proves the enduring legacy of these timeless characters. Tell your friends, see it in theatres, and show WB that they were wrong to try to bury this one.
