After years of uncertainty, cancellation rumours and a long journey to the big screen, Coyote vs. Acme has finally made its way toward theatrical release.

Directed by Dave Green, the live-action and animation hybrid brings the iconic Wile E. Coyote into a completely new kind of adventure. Instead of simply chasing the Road Runner with another increasingly ridiculous ACME invention, the frustrated coyote decides to fight back against the company responsible for all those disastrous products.

The result is a courtroom comedy that combines classic Looney Tunes slapstick with live-action characters, legal drama and a surprisingly heartfelt story about perseverance.

Coyote vs. Acme Release Date

Coyote vs. Acme is scheduled to release in US theatres on August 28, 2026.

The film has a runtime of approximately 1 hour 41 minutes and carries a PG rating for cartoon violence and some language.

The movie has already received reviews from critics ahead of its wide theatrical release, giving audiences an early idea of what to expect.

What Is Coyote vs. Acme About?

The basic premise is simple but extremely clever.

For decades, Wile E. Coyote has repeatedly purchased ACME products in his never-ending attempt to catch the Road Runner. Unfortunately for him, almost every invention backfires spectacularly.

In Coyote vs. Acme, the coyote finally decides that enough is enough.

He teams up with struggling personal-injury lawyer Kevin Avery, played by Will Forte, and takes ACME Corporation to court.

The case becomes a battle between an unlikely underdog and a powerful corporation represented by slick lawyer Buddy Crane, played by John Cena.

What begins as a ridiculous cartoon lawsuit gradually becomes a story about standing up against powerful institutions.

Coyote vs. Acme Cast

The film features a combination of live-action actors and classic Looney Tunes characters.

Main Cast

• Will Forte as Kevin Avery
• John Cena as Buddy Crane
• Lana Condor as Paige Avery
• Tone Bell as Sal Maltese
• Eric Bauza providing voices for several Looney Tunes characters
• Wile E. Coyote
• Road Runner
• Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters also appear.

The combination of real actors and animated characters is one of the film's biggest attractions.

Will Forte and John Cena's Performances

Will Forte plays Kevin Avery as a slightly chaotic and down-on-his-luck lawyer who unexpectedly finds himself representing one of the most unlucky cartoon characters ever created.

His deadpan comedy works particularly well against the exaggerated behaviour of the animated world.

John Cena, meanwhile, plays Buddy Crane, ACME's confident corporate lawyer.

The contrast between Forte's reluctant underdog and Cena's polished corporate representative gives the courtroom scenes much of their comic energy.

Wile E. Coyote Gets a New Story

The most interesting thing about the film is that Wile E. Coyote is not simply treated as a gag character.

The movie takes the familiar character's endless failures and turns them into the foundation of an actual story.

Every rocket, explosive, spring, magnet and other ACME invention that previously caused chaos now becomes potential evidence against the corporation.

It is a clever way of transforming decades of cartoon history into a feature-film narrative.

Coyote vs. Acme Review: Is It Actually Funny?

For the most part, yes.

Critics have praised the movie's combination of classic slapstick comedy and more modern humour.

RogerEbert.com's Brian Tallerico described the film as consistently clever and funny, while noting some minor pacing and length issues.

Time Out gave the movie 4 out of 5 stars, praising its energetic comedy and describing it as an extremely entertaining experience.

That means fans expecting the classic Looney Tunes chaos are likely to find plenty to enjoy.

Animation and Live-Action Combination

One of the biggest technical challenges of the movie was making animated characters feel natural alongside human actors.

The film follows the tradition of movies such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, mixing live-action environments with animated characters.

Several critics have specifically praised the way the film integrates the Looney Tunes characters into its real-world setting.

The result isn't trying to recreate a traditional animated Looney Tunes episode.

Instead, it builds a world where cartoon physics and real-world courtroom drama can exist together.

The Film's Surprisingly Serious Message

Underneath all the jokes, Coyote vs. Acme has a surprisingly relevant theme.

The story is essentially about an ordinary underdog taking on a huge corporation.

That makes the film more than a collection of Road Runner jokes.

Critics have noted that the movie explores themes of corporate power, perseverance, resilience and standing up for yourself.

This also gives the film an unusual real-world connection because of its own complicated journey to theatres.

The Strange Journey of Coyote vs. Acme

The movie's production history is almost as unusual as its plot.

Coyote vs. Acme was completed and originally intended for release, but Warner Bros. later shelved the film as part of a tax-related decision.

The movie eventually found a new home through Ketchup Entertainment, allowing it to finally reach audiences.

That real-life story makes the film's underdog theme even more interesting.

A movie about a character fighting against a giant corporation effectively had to fight its own corporate battle before reaching cinemas.

Coyote vs. Acme Critics Rating

The early critical response is strong.

Rotten Tomatoes currently lists 96% from 93 critic reviews, while Metacritic has a 76/100 score based on 22 critic reviews.

However, reviews are not completely unanimous.

Some critics have praised the film's humour and heart, while others felt that the screenplay and pacing don't always maintain the energy of the classic cartoons.

What Critics Are Saying

The general critical consensus is that the film is better than its unusual production history might suggest.

Positive reviews highlight:

• Clever comedy
• Strong Looney Tunes nostalgia
• Good Will Forte performance
• Fun John Cena character
• Effective live-action/animation combination
• Emotional payoff
• Underdog story
• Corporate satire

The main criticism is that the film occasionally struggles to maintain the rapid-fire energy of a short Looney Tunes cartoon over a feature-length runtime.

Is Coyote vs. Acme Worth Watching?

Yes, especially for Looney Tunes fans and families.

The movie doesn't simply rely on nostalgia. It takes familiar characters and gives them a surprisingly fresh situation.

The courtroom concept allows Wile E. Coyote's history of failed ACME inventions to become part of the story rather than just a collection of disconnected gags.

The film also works for viewers who may not know every detail of the original cartoons because the central story is easy to understand.

Coyote vs. Acme: Final Verdict

Coyote vs. Acme is a fun, inventive and surprisingly heartfelt return for Wile E. Coyote and the Looney Tunes universe.

The combination of live action, animation, courtroom comedy and classic slapstick gives the film an identity of its own.

It isn't a perfect movie. Some pacing issues and a few jokes don't land as strongly as others.

But the strong early critical response suggests that the film successfully avoids becoming just another nostalgia-driven franchise project.

Rating: ⭐ 4/5

Verdict: A clever family comedy that turns Wile E. Coyote's endless failures into an entertaining underdog story.

Coyote vs. Acme Movie Details

Final Words

Coyote vs. Acme is one of those movies whose journey to theatres has become almost as entertaining as the movie itself.

After being shelved and later rescued for theatrical release, the film has emerged as a surprisingly well-received Looney Tunes comedy.

With Will Forte and John Cena leading the live-action cast, Dave Green's direction and Wile E. Coyote at the centre of the story, the film offers both nostalgia and a fresh storyline.

The current 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and 76 Metacritic score indicate a broadly positive critical response, although some reviewers have pointed out pacing and screenplay weaknesses.

For families, animation lovers and longtime Looney Tunes fans, Coyote vs. Acme looks like a worthwhile theatrical watch when it releases on August 28.

FAQs

When is Coyote vs. Acme releasing?

Coyote vs. Acme is scheduled to release in US theatres on August 28, 2026.

Who stars in Coyote vs. Acme?

The movie stars Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor, with several Looney Tunes characters appearing in animated form.

Who directed Coyote vs. Acme?

The movie was directed by Dave Green.

What is Coyote vs. Acme about?

The story follows Wile E. Coyote as he teams up with lawyer Kevin Avery to sue ACME Corporation over the products that repeatedly fail during his attempts to catch the Road Runner.

What is Coyote vs. Acme's Rotten Tomatoes score?

The film currently has a 96% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 93 critic reviews.

What is Coyote vs. Acme's Metacritic score?

Coyote vs. Acme currently has a 76/100 Metacritic score, classified as generally favorable.

Is Coyote vs. Acme suitable for children?

The film is rated PG for cartoon violence and some language. Parents should consider their children's sensitivity to those elements.