★★★ (3 out of 4)
As a movie, “Coyote vs. Acme” is terrific, good fun. But the story about how “Coyote vs. Acme” finally made it to the big screen after its studio, Warner Bros. Discovery, tried to dump it as a tax write off...now that’s a movie with real bite. You’ll laugh and then bang the nearest table while roaring, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore.”
Directed by Dave Green and starring Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor, the film was shot in 2022 and reportedly completed by 2023. In November of that year, Warner Bros. Discovery slammed the door on releasing it, preferring a roughly $30 million tax write-off. That triggered an unusually fierce backlash from filmmakers and fans and those happy few with a working conscience.
Warner subsequently allowed the producers to shop the movie to other distributors. Netflix, Amazon and Paramount were among the companies reported to have shown interest, but Warner's asking price—around $75–80 million—prevented a deal.
The stalemate finally broke in March 2025, when Ketchup Entertainment acquired worldwide rights for about $50 million. Ketchup then chose a theatrical release strategy rather than dumping it immediately onto streaming, which pushed the movie's arrival still farther out. That's why the story surrounding “Coyote vs. Acme” became nearly as fascinating as the movie: a completed, nearly $80-million studio film had to escape its own studio and three years of corporate limbo before audiences were allowed to see it.
Inspired silliness
Anyway, now it’s here and gleefully sticking it to the studio that birthed it along with its CEO David Zaslav. Wouldn’t you? The plot of this live-action Looney Tunes movie involves our boy Wile E. Coyote deciding to get a lawsuit together to sue the Acme Corporation. The alleged reason is that every product he’s used from Acme has famously backfired on him. How can Coyote capture the Road Runner when Acme keeps selling him damaged goods? But come on, the plot only really makes sense when every time you hear the name Acme you substitute Warner Bros. Discovery and chairman Zaslav.
And we’re off. Coyote hires sad sack lawyer Kevin Avery (the comic force that is Will Forte) from Albuquerque, New Mexico law firm of Avery, Jones, and Maltese (a much deserved shoutout to legendary animators Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, and Michael Maltese). As you know, Wile E. Coyote doesn’t speak. He holds up signs that say it all: “Acme Sucks” being an inelegant but cogent example. Too bad Avery lacks his client’s gumption. He’s always ready to settle and slink away with peanuts.
Can Avery learn to fight for real with the help of his up-for-anything niece Paige (Lana Condor)? I’m guessing you know the answer. Enter the villain of the piece—Acme’s legal assassin Buddy Crane, played by John Cena who starts at shamelessly over the top and rockets on from there. Cena is even more cartoonish than Acme CEO Foghorn Leghorn, who actually is a cartoon (voiced by veteran vocal virtuoso Eric Bauza).
The kids will love it, though grownups might have hoped for a more brutal comic takedown. For that, read the legal transcripts. “Coyote vs. Acme” lacks the sharp satirical chops to rank with, say, the 1988 classic, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” but the jokes are consistent. Forte interacts perfectly with what’s not there. And, really, who’s a more hissable villain than corporate America? OK, “Coyote” is no classic. But I’ll settle for inspired silliness. And so should you. The sign I’m holding up reads, “Go, Coyote!”