Movie Review: What’s up, flop? The toon-human hybrid ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ should’ve stayed on shelf
PUBLISHED Aug 26, 2026, 4:25 PM ET
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Coyote vs. Acme, a long-shelved Looney Tunes hybrid, is reaching U.S. theaters Friday after Warner Bros. abandoned its original release plan and Ketchup Entertainment acquired distribution rights. Directed by Dave Green and starring Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor, the film follows Wile E. Coyote as he hires a lawyer to sue Acme over defective products. Warner Bros. shelved the completed movie in 2023 as part of a tax write-off strategy; Ketchup acquired worldwide rights in 2025 in a deal reported at roughly $50 million. The supplied Associated Press review gives the film one star, criticizing its screenplay, tone and use of Looney Tunes characters. However, reviews are sharply divided. Los Angeles Times, Time Out, Sight and Sound, Houston Chronicle and other outlets have praised the film's humor, animation and underdog story. The movie opens Aug. 28, making commercial performance its next major commercial test and unusual rescue story.
By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- On 1990, New Yorker published Frazier’s parody inspiring this film. �
- Wikipedia
- On 1949, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner debuted together. �
- Houston Chronicle
- On 2022, approximately $70 million production was completed for Warner. �
- AP News
- On 2023, Warner Bros. shelved the completed film for taxes. �
- Yahoo
- On March 31, 2025, Ketchup acquired worldwide distribution rights thereafter. �
- TheWrap +1
- On July 27, 2025, Comic-Con confirmed August 2026 theatrical date. �
- Variety Australia
- Present
- On August 12, 2026, Time Out praised its energetic comedy. �
- Time Out Worldwide
- On August 26, 2026, AP published a one-star negative review. �
- AP News
- On August 28, 2026, U.S. theaters will begin nationwide screenings. �
- Ketchup Entertainment
- Future
- Over coming weeks, box-office results will measure audience demand directly.
- Over coming months, streaming performance may determine franchise opportunities further.
News Intelligence
- Immediate US impact: audiences receive a previously shelved major studio film.
- Possible long-term US impact: rescue may influence studio release and accounting decisions.
- Reader priority: release facts, review consensus, and box-office reporting.
- Most Affected: Looney Tunes fans, filmmakers, distributor, exhibitors, Warner stakeholders.
Left: Coverage emphasizes corporate accountability, creative rights, and Warner’s controversial shelving decision. Center: Coverage emphasizes release history, acquisition, critical disagreement, and audience response. Right: Coverage emphasizes studio economics, commercial discipline, and consumer choice.
AP published review August 26, 2026, criticizing the film’s execution. https://apnews.com/article/d46030ede75c20f122af67cd0fdb1460
Coverage of Story:
From Left
Fanged and funny, ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ gives audiences the last — and loudest — laugh
Los Angeles Times The Guardian Gizmodo VultureFrom Center
Movie Review: What’s up, flop? The toon-human hybrid ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ should’ve stayed on shelf
JQJO Associated Press Houston Chronicle Time Out BFI Sight and Sound Forbes /Film ComingSoon.net Nashville Scene The Spokesman-Review FOX19 GamesRadar+ Financial Times The Times DrydenWire Explosion Network Chrisicisms Films for Breakfast From the Fourth Row RTÉ Variety TheWrap Associated Press The Irish Times The Boston Globe Screen DailyFrom Right
Shelved Looney Toons movie casts Hollywood CEO David Zaslav as villain - but will get last laugh at box office?
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