Critics give Coyote Vs Acme rave reviews calling it "The Best Since Roger Rabbit"
The long-delayed live-action/animated hybrid Coyote vs. Acme has made a triumphant, critically acclaimed debut, winning surprisingly positive reviews after it was shelved in 2023.
The long-delayed live-action/animated hybrid Coyote vs. Acme has made a triumphant, critically acclaimed debut, transforming from a written-off tax write-down into one of the highest-rated comedies of the year.
Film Title: Coyote vs. Acme
Release Status: Formerly shelved Warner Bros. movie released in 2026
Critical Reception: Overwhelmingly positive, praised as a hilarious legal satire and classic live-action/animation hybrid
Key Cast: Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, Tone Bell
Director & Writers: Directed by Dave Green; screenplay by Samy Burch from a story by James Gunn, Jeremy Slater, and Samy Burch
From Tax Write-Off to Cinematic Triumph
The new Warner Bros movie, shelved in 2023, has become what Deadline has called the studio’s “most entertaining film of 2026”.
Once considered lost to corporate tax write-downs, the film’s release has drawn massive crowds and critical adulation. Deadline says:
“I can tell you this delightful gem of a movie is, for me at least, ironically not only the best Warner Bros film released so far this year, it also is, hands down, the best animated/live action hybrid since Robert Zemeckis’ classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit hit screens four decades ago (sorry, Space Jam)”.
And other critics completely agree:
Hysterical and Smart Satire: Reviewers from IGN noted that the film succeeds on every level, deftly mixing absurd humor, courtroom drama, and a sharp meta-subplot.
Excellent Performances: The dynamic between the human actors and the animated characters received high marks. Critics from Deadline praised Will Forte as the perfect downtrodden foil to Wile E. Coyote, alongside a hilarious deadpan performance from John Cena as Acme’s bullying lawyer.
Accidental Poignancy: A common thread among critics, including those at Polygon, is the deep irony of the film’s plot. The story features an underdog fighting back against an unfeeling giant corporation, mirroring the real-life battle the film faced against Warner Bros. to get released.
Cast and Plot Details: Wile E. Coyote Takes ACME to Court
Based on Ian Frazier’s classic 1990 New Yorker humor piece, Coyote vs. Acme brings the iconic silent Looney Tunes character into a modern courtroom drama.
After decades of devastating injuries caused by defective catapults, rocket skates, giant magnets, and exploding anvils, a frustrated Wile E. Coyote decides he has had enough. He hires Kevin Avery (played by Will Forte), a down-on-his-luck Albuquerque billboard attorney whose career and confidence have seen better days. With the help of Kevin’s ambitious niece Paige (Lana Condor), the team files a massive lawsuit against the conglomerate behind the malfunctioning products.
Standing in their way is the ruthless, high-powered corporate attorney Buddy Crane (John Cena), Kevin’s former law-school classmate and bully who will stop at nothing to defend the Acme Corporation.
What the Industry Is Saying
Critical consensus across major outlets reflects an instant comedy classic:
Polygon say: “It’s the best Looney Tunes movie ever and the best comedy of 2026”.
Hollywood Reporter write: “Nearly Shelved Looney Tunes Film Starring Will Forte and John Cena Is One of the Best Live-Action/Animated Hybrids Ever”.
Awards Radar say: “The movie is a consistently witty delight, finding a lot of mileage from this high concept premise.”
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