Coyote vs. Acme review: The Looney Tunes film that turns a cartoon chase into an unexpected courtroom battle
By Katemarthason Okudo, August 16, 2026Released in 2026, Coyote vs. Acme is a live-action and animated comedy that combines elements of a courtroom drama, family film and classic cartoon adventure. The film takes one of the most familiar stories in the Looney Tunes universe and turns it into something completely different.
For years, audiences have watched Wile E. Coyote chase the Road Runner across the desert. Every attempt to catch his speedy rival has ended in failure, usually because of products purchased from the Acme Corporation. Rockets explode too early, traps collapse, and gadgets fail at the worst possible moment.
This time, however, Wile E. Coyote decides he has had enough. Instead of ordering another invention from Acme, he takes the company to court.
That simple idea becomes the foundation of one of the most entertaining family films released this year. Rather than depending only on nostalgia, the film creates a story that feels fresh while still respecting the original cartoons.
Wile E. Coyote finally gets a voice
One of the film’s biggest strengths is the way it presents Wile E. Coyote. For decades, the character has been known for determination rather than dialogue. In Coyote vs. Acme, his frustrations become the centre of the story.
The film follows Kevin Avery, a struggling lawyer who reluctantly agrees to represent Wile E. Coyote. At first, Kevin treats the case as little more than another unsuccessful legal battle.
That changes when he begins to understand the scale of Acme’s failures. Together, Kevin Avery and Wile E. Coyote start gathering evidence to prove that the company’s products have caused years of disasters.
Their partnership becomes the emotional heart of the film. Instead of treating Wile E. Coyote as a simple cartoon character, the story presents him as someone who has spent years refusing to give up despite constant setbacks.
Buddy Crane turns the courtroom into a battlefield
Representing Acme, Buddy Crane enters the courtroom with confidence and determination. He challenges every accusation and transforms what could have been a simple lawsuit into a complicated battle between a powerful corporation and an unlikely group of challengers.
The legal conflict gives the film structure, but the humour never disappears. Classic Looney Tunes moments continue throughout the story. Exploding devices, collapsing inventions and impossible situations remain part of the experience.
Animation and live action work surprisingly well
Blending animated characters with human actors is always a difficult task. Coyote vs. Acme succeeds because it treats both sides as equally important. The animated characters do not feel like special effects added to a live-action story. Instead, they become active participants who influence every major event.
The visual style also preserves the identity of the original cartoons. The deserts, the Acme gadgets and the familiar characters remain recognisable while still fitting naturally into a modern film.
The film goes beyond simple cartoon comedy and explores themes such as persistence, friendship and standing up to powerful institutions. Yet it never loses the playful spirit that made Looney Tunes popular in the first place.
It delivers laughs, creates memorable characters, and offers a different way of looking at one of animation’s oldest rivalries.