WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Coyote vs. Acme — The Looney Tunes comeback taking cartoon chaos to the courtroom

After nearly being shelved, Coyote vs. Acme brings Wile E. Coyote to court in a lively Looney Tunes comedy about corporate power, persistence and justice.

It pleases the court greatly that after two years of uncertainty, Coyote vs. Acme has finally made its way into cinemas. The story of the completed film that was to be shelved for a Warner Bros. tax write-off sent shockwaves across the Internet and pop culture landscape.

Cut to the present, and thanks to Ketchup Entertainment (the same people who released 2025’s The Day the Earth Blew Up ), we are once again treated to a live-action-meets-animation outing of the Looney Tunes.

Coyote vs. Acme centres on Looney Tunes favourite Wile E. Coyote, known for his non-stop attempts to catch that blasted roadrunner in the American Southwest, usually aided by a catalogue of items sourced from the Acme Corporation. One day, upon having yet another Acme product blow up in his face, Wile E. decides he’s had enough and sues Acme with the help of burnt-out attorney Kevin Avery (played by Will Forte).

Though the case seems doomed given the corporate might of Acme and the tenacity of its lead counsel, Buddy Crane (John Cena), Avery quickly discovers the Coyote’s misfortunes may be tied to a grand conspiracy. A conspiracy that has had serious consequences over the years and that Acme may prefer not be made public.

It’s courtroom drama meets animated hijinks as the coyote not only seeks justice for himself, but comes to a realisation alongside Avery about what it means to keep trying in life, no matter how many times you fail.

If Coyote vs Acme has a point of failure, it’s by being very ambitious with its storytelling. Rather than taking the Looney Tunes: Back in Action route and following a nonsensical plot in the name of humour, the film touches lightly on heavy contemporary and topical themes such as the nature of corporate monopoly and the power of the individual (yes, in a Looney Tunes movie).

It results in scenes where audiences are left patiently waiting for characters to start making jokes again or for Wile E. to be hit by a flying projectile. Though every joke in the film lands, their travel time leaves you wishing they would arrive quicker.

I use the word patiently because, unlike in 2003’s Back in Action, the live-action cast is doing a pretty decent job keeping up with the zany antics of their CGI co-stars.

Will Forte, who has spent a good chunk of his career voicing animated characters, does excellent work attempting to rationalise a very irrational client. His relationship with Wile E. not only serves as sufficient emotional propellant, but has the positive side effect of grounding the film via very simple stakes.

Forte’s presence is never unwelcome. The same goes for Kevin’s ambitious and optimistic intern Paige (Lana Condor).