Movie Review: Coyote vs Acme
The fact that Coyote vs Acme exists and that I am reviewing the film is a cinematic miracle. Originally slated to be released in July of 2023, Warner Bros, the original studio releasing the film, decided to shelve the completed film entirely for a tax write-off. Seemingly gone from existence, Ketchup Entertainment bought the distribution rights in March of 2025 and has now officially released the film in theaters. I don’t normally go into the history of a film’s release, but it’s important for this one.
There are a lot of decisions studio heads make that I do not agree with. Warner Bros., under CEO David Zaslav at the time, shelving a completed film entirely for a tax write-off is disrespectful to everyone involved and a simple case of Executive Greed 101. Warner Bros. also did this with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s Batgirl movie in 2022 when it was near completion.
What makes the Warner Bros. shelving of Coyote vs Acme even worse, and makes Ketchup Entertainment look like cinematic saviors, is that the film is good. I’m not saying a bad film should be shelved for tax reasons, but shelving a movie as fun as Coyote vs Acme makes the situation even worse.
I cannot recommend Coyote vs. Acme enough. It is a wildly entertaining and energetic film that mixes Who Framed Roger Rabbit? technology and world-building with the courtroom dramatics of an Aaron Sorkin film.
We all know the age-old battle of Coyote vs Road Runner. Since 1949, when Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner first appeared in the Looney Tunes animated short Fast and Furry-ous, Coyote has been trying to catch Road Runner and eat him. But every time Coyote gets close, whatever contraption he has purchased to help him catch Road Runner seems to backfire. From catapults to rockets to various traps, all made by the Acme Corporation, every single one fails at the most inopportune time for Coyote, leaving him in shambles and Road Runner running free.
Coyote sees an ad for a lawyer named Kevin Avery (Will Forte), who will take any case against the Acme Corporation and settle them quickly and painlessly for a small sum of money. Coyote hires him but does not plan to settle and wants to take Acme to court, despite Kevin’s best efforts to convince Coyote otherwise. Coyote and Kevin’s journey to suing Acme starts simple but takes them down a road of deception and corruption.
Coyote vs Acme is a blast of energy and creativity. Director Dave Green brings the chaotic energy we expect from a Looney Tunes cartoon and expertly blends it with noir and political thrillers. Sometimes it felt like I was watching a Saturday morning cartoon; other times, All the President’s Men. Will Forte gives a brilliant performance as the unmotivated Avery, making a complicated role where he must interact with a mute cartoon character hilarious and effortless. John Cena also gives one of his funniest performances to date as Acme’s top lawyer going toe-to-toe with Kevin. He has a scene with Tweety Bird that is one of the funniest scenes of the decade.
I was hooked by Coyote vs Acme from minute one. It had me smiling and laughing the whole time, while also being a well-written and exciting mystery. Go out and support this film and show Warner Bros. how big of a mistake they made shelving and getting rid of this wonderful film.
TL;DR Review of Coyote vs Acme
- Incredibly entertaining and funny.
- A perfect mix of Looney Tunes zaniness and courtroom intrigue.
- Will Forte and John Cena give outstanding performances.
- The story of how it got released is great, and the movie is too.
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