Altitude and Ketchup Entertainment preview Coyote vs. ACME in UK cinemas on August 21, 2026 before a wide release on August 28.
Synopsis
Tired from decades of being blown up by explosive ACME products whilst in pursuit of the uncatchable Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote teams up with lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte) to fight back in Coyote vs. ACME. But ACME has its own powerhouse defence attorney in Kevin’s slick nemesis Buddy Crane (John Cena), who is determined to silence Wile E. and Kevin. Wile E. and Kevin embark on a wild quest for justice that’s as thrilling and physics-defying as Wile E.’s lifelong chase for the ever-speedy Road Runner.
Review
Coyote vs. Acme is a massive win for animation lovers, delivering a clever, deeply affectionate, and triumphantly funny film that respects the legacy of classic Looney Tune cartoons while giving them some real emotional depth. By reframing Wile E. Coyote’s endless string of failures through the lens of a David-versus-Goliath courtroom drama, director Dave Green and screenwriter Samy Burch transform decades of slapstick punishment into a heart warming plot about perseverance against corporate greed (looking at you Warner Bros execs who wanted to shelve this!) I feel comfortable saying that Coyote Vs Acme might be the best Looney Tunes movie since Space Jam back in the 90’s.
Based on Ian Frazier’s classic New Yorker humour essay, the plot follows Wile E. as he hires a deadbeat loser billboard lawyer (played with pitch-perfect earnestness by Will Forte), to sue the Acme Corporation over decades of defective anvils, malfunctioning catapults, and misfiring dynamite. Rather than treating the Coyote as a mere punching bag though, the movie chooses to reframe him as this icon of pure, unyielding grit. He is a character who gets crushed by a boulder, dusts himself off, and tries again—a philosophy that hits surprisingly close to home for many people today.
The magic of Coyote Vs Acme also is that is does not fall back onto it’s most well known Looney Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. While they appear in the film, it’s treated more like a minor appearance and not having them shoehorned into the plot. The decision to let the silent but hilarious Wile E. Coyote take centre stage and keep him there was brilliant and if I had to rank my Looney Tune favourite, the guy’s managed to climb that roster thanks to the movie. Wile. E Coyote maintains his mute persona while delivering pure slapstick perfection throughout whether it’s in the foreground or background.
Unlike the long HBO Max advert that was Space Jam: A New Legacy, which felt bloated with forced brand cameos and CGI glitz, Coyote vs. Acme treats its source material with absolute sincerity and weight. The dynamic between Forte’s underdog lawyer and Wile E. works because both are tragic losers trying to win against impossible odds.
Elsewhere, John Cena brings his strong comedic timing and slightly unhinged energy as Acme’s slick corporate defence attorney, serving as the perfect counter to the silent animated coyote. Crucially, the film preserves the mime-like physical acting that made Chuck Jones’ original shorts legendary and timeless, integrating a classic hand-drawn feel into a live-action world.
There is a poetic irony to the film’s release also. After nearly being locked away forever in a corporate vault for a tax write-off, the movie’s real-world survival perfectly mirrors Wile E.’s own refusal to stay down. Public pressure, fan outcry, and creative passion forced this film out of distribution limbo, making the viewing experience feel like a shared victory for film preservation and the love for the Looney Tunes who are pushing past 96 years old by now.
Verdict
Ultimately, Coyote vs. Acme isn’t just a great cartoon meets live action movie; it is a hilarious, sharp, and genuinely moving tribute to keeping your chin up when the world keeps dropping anvils on your head and persevering despite feeling like you have the world against you. It’s a hilarious triumph of heart, hustle, and pure nostalgia and an absolute blast from start to finish.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
