Coyote vs. Acme (2026) – When Looney Tunes Meets the Courtroom

I really enjoyed Coyote vs. Acme, and there were lots of parts that made me laugh out loud. Seeing a live-action movie with animations isn't new, but this one had a good effect on me and got me thinking about many things. The way cartoons are treated here is wild—it's like the film takes the slapstick violence we've always laughed at and asks, "Wait, what if this was real?" It's a hilarious, clever, and surprisingly thoughtful ride that I didn't expect to enjoy this much. My rating for this movie is 8 out of 10.

Starring Will Forte as Kevin Avery, a down-and-out billboard attorney, John Cena as Buddy Crane, the slick Acme Corporation lawyer, and Lana Condor as Paige Avery, Kevin's niece and intern, this live-action animated comedy is directed by Dave Green. It's loosely based on the 1990 The New Yorker article "Coyote v. Acme" by Ian Frazier. The film follows Wile E. Coyote as he finally fights back against the company that's been selling him faulty products for decades. It earned an 8/10 from me. Let's dig into the details.

The Plot: From Cliff Falls to Courtroom Battles

After decades of being blown to bits by bombs, demolished by dynamite, mangled by magnets, battered by boulders, trampled by trains, tricked by tunnels, sprung by springs, steamrolled by steamrollers, maligned by misfires, bedeviled by bungees, rattled by rockets, backstabbed by bat suits, rocked by rocket skates, upended by unicycles, quaked by quake pills, rubberized by rogue bands, and hurled headlong off every cliff in the Southwest, Wile E. Coyote finally fights back. Teaming up with billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery, he takes on slick corporate counsel Buddy Crane and ACME, Inc., the profit-obsessed conglomerate behind every one of the Coyote's chaotic catastrophes. No spoilers here, but the film cleverly blends courtroom drama with Looney Tunes chaos, and the result is a wildly entertaining mashup that works far better than it has any right to.

The Genius of Treating Cartoons Like Real People

This is where Coyote vs. Acme really shines. The way cartoons are treated here is wild—they're not just animated characters bouncing back from violence; they're beings with feelings, rights, and a legitimate grievance against a corporation that's been profiting off their misery for decades. The film asks a simple but brilliant question: what if all those ACME products that backfired weren't just funny—what if they were defective? And what if Wile E. Coyote was tired of being the punchline? Watching him sit in a courtroom, wearing a suit, and demanding justice is both absurd and weirdly empowering. It made me think about how we've laughed at cartoon violence for generations without ever considering the "victims." The film doesn't beat you over the head with this idea, but it's there, and it adds a layer of intelligence to the comedy that I really appreciated.

The Comedy and the Performances

Will Forte is perfectly cast as the down-on-his-luck lawyer who takes on a case no one else will touch. He brings a sincere, slightly pathetic energy that makes Kevin Avery both funny and endearing. John Cena continues to prove he's a comedic force as Buddy Crane, the corporate lawyer who was Kevin's rival at Harvard Law School. Cena's timing and deadpan delivery are spot-on, and his scenes with Forte are some of the film's best. Lana Condor is also charming as Paige, Kevin's niece and intern, who brings a modern perspective to the old-school law firm. The blend of live-action and animation is seamless, and the Looney Tunes characters feel authentic to their roots while also fitting into this new, more grounded world. The humor ranges from slapstick to clever wordplay to genuinely clever satire, and there's something here for both kids and adults.

What Worked and What Didn't

What I really liked about this film is how it balances nostalgia with fresh ideas. It respects the Looney Tunes legacy while also doing something new with it. The courtroom scenes are surprisingly tense and well-written, and the film never forgets to be funny. The pacing is tight at 1h 43m, and the film earns its emotional beats without getting too sappy. However, there were moments where I felt the film could have pushed its satire even further. The corporate greed angle is there, but it could have been sharper. Some of the supporting characters feel a bit underdeveloped, and the film occasionally relies on familiar courtroom tropes. That said, these are minor gripes in an otherwise delightful movie.

Ratings and Critical Reception

IMDb: 7.4/10 from 37,000 votes. 

RT: 96% critics (296 reviews) / 94% audience. 

The film grossed $110 million worldwide on a budget of $70–72 million. Critics and audiences overwhelmingly agree—this is a winner. The 96% critics score is well-deserved, and the 94% audience score shows that people genuinely love this film. It's rare to see such high scores across the board, and I think my 8/10 aligns perfectly with the consensus. It's a critical and commercial success, and it's easy to see why.

A Minor Critique

If I had to point out one flaw, it's that the film sometimes plays it a bit safe with its satire. The idea of a corporation being held accountable for its defective products is ripe for sharper commentary, and I think the film could have gone further. There were also a few moments where the pacing dipped slightly in the middle. But honestly, these are small complaints about a film that's otherwise a joy to watch.

A Hilarious Gem for Looney Tunes Fans and Comedy Lovers

At 8/10, Coyote vs. Acme is a hilarious, clever, and surprisingly heartfelt film that Looney Tunes fans and comedy lovers will adore. It's a wild ride that treats cartoons with a respect I didn't know I wanted, and it made me think about the stories we've been telling for generations in a new light. Dive in if you want a good laugh and a fresh take on a classic character. It sparked thoughts about justice, corporate responsibility, and the ethics of laughing at someone else's pain—all while being genuinely funny. The film knows what it is and embraces it fully, delivering a courtroom comedy that's well worth your time.

What did you think of Coyote vs. Acme? Did the courtroom angle land for you, or did you miss the classic cliff falls? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and here's the big one: suggest a movie for my next review! I'm craving more live-action animation hybrids with heart. If you enjoyed this post, please share to support the blog. Thanks! 

See also My full list of 2026 movie reviews →