--- title: "Coyote vs. Acme: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/coyote-vs-acme/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/coyote-vs-acme" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 16 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Coyote vs. Acme (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 16 reviews: 12 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics welcome Coyote vs. Acme as a funny, affectionate adaptation that understands the Looney Tunes appetite for destruction. Praise centres on the sight gags, the blend of animation and live action, and a courtroom premise that gives the slapstick a useful target in corporate greed. The reviews also find unexpected warmth in the underdog story and the bond between Wile E. Coyote and his lawyer. For many, the cartoon references support the comedy rather than substitute for it. The reservations concern how much anarchy survives the move to feature length, with a wide spread between enthusiasm and disappointment. Variety enjoys the cameos but finds the comedy tame beside the original cartoons. Screen Daily is more dismissive, arguing that the screenplay cannot sustain its snarky tone. /Film also sees a missed opportunity for sharper legal satire, finding the approach too child-friendly to make enough of its premise. ## Radio Times Rating 5/5. 20 August 2026. The critic calls it a pitch-perfect movie with endless gags that masterfully blends courtroom drama, corporate satire, slapstick and bromance, delivering top-drawer laughs and even tears through faithful transposition of cartoon mayhem. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/coyote-vs-acme-review/) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 August 2026. The critic calls it a daft, inventive, hilarious comedy that is more than worth the wait after its troubled production history. They single out the deep love for the Looney Tunes world and its many Easter eggs as what makes the film work so well. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/coyote-vs-acme/) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 August 2026. Praises the film's tone-perfect blend of live-action and classic Looney Tunes animation as a brisk, anarchic comedy that nails the spirit of the originals while delivering timely social commentary on corporate greed. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-08-26/coyote-vs-acme-review-will-forte-lana-condor-john-cena-dave-green) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 August 2026. The critic calls it a giddily inventive blend of madcap Looney Tunes humour, underdog courtroom drama and buddy movie that is one of the funniest of the year. They praise its homage to Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the silly highlights from the Looney Tunes characters. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-pick-of-the-other-films-coyote-vs-acme-spa-weekend-stop-that-train) ## Little White Lies — Kambole Campbell Rating 4/4/4. 17 August 2026. The review praises the funny and satisfyingly cartoonish anarchy of this Looney Tunes comedy that sticks it to corporate interests, while noting it revels in Chuck Jones’ cartoon logic despite minor visual issues. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/coyote-vs-acme) ## The New Yorker — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 August 2026. Hails it as a fleet, funny, elegant throwback with seamless animation-live action integration and reverence for the Looney Tunes universe, while noting a strong metaphorical resonance with the film's own production battles. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/08/24/coyote-vs-acme-movie-review) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 2026. The critic says thank goodness the film was rescued, calling the premise irresistible and very funny with an ingenious screenplay. They note it proves there is still life in the old Warner Bros cartoon universe and that anyone over seven will have a blast. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/08/21/coyote-vs-acme-review-looney-tunes/) ## Time Out — Simon Crook Rating 4/5. 12 August 2026. This berserk comedy is hailed as an absolute blast that channels the manic spirit of classic Looney Tunes with relentless gags and a surprisingly sweet underdog story, though the studio backstory adds ironic satisfaction. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/coyote-vs-acme-review-2026) ## The AV Club — Jacob Oller Rating B. 12 August 2026. The critic praises the film as a winningly silly yet intelligent take on corporate malpractice in Looney Tunes form. He highlights the explosive slapstick, classic references, and thematic insight into struggling against overwhelming corporate odds. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/coyote-vs-acme-review) ## Financial Times Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2026. The critic describes it as a briskly enjoyable, tartly satirical feature mixing animation and live action in the tradition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. They call it an altogether classy affair with Looney Tunes in-jokes and note parallels to the film's own rocky production history. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/ca8c9b92-e4cb-4b88-b10e-1fe722aaa7a8) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 19 August 2026. The critic finds it a quirky, peculiar live-action-toon hybrid with some laughs and fanatical oddity that makes it watchable, though not a masterpiece. They highlight its satirical take on litigious culture and corporate arrogance but note it falls short of similar films like Bee Movie. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/aug/19/coyote-vs-acme-review-wile-e-coyote-roadrunner) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. Calls it a nostalgic lark that deserves release and features winning cameos and a courtroom premise, but finds it tame and missing the anarchic fizz of the classic cartoons it honors. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/coyote-vs-acme-review-will-forte-wile-e-coyote-1236832065/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The adaptation is seen as a nostalgic charmer that struggles to sustain its snarky tone over feature length, with a lacklustre screenplay proving as faulty as the corporation’s contraptions it satirises. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/coyote-vs-acme-review-looney-tunes-adaptation-is-like-its-wiley-protagonist-more-miss-than-hit/5219288.article) ## Sight and Sound 13 August 2026. The critic finds the film a clever mix of buddy movie, courtroom drama and political satire, rescued from shelving to deliver a warm, witty and moving experience with an important seam of political commentary. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/coyote-vs-acme-toon-courtroom-drama-one-smartest-critiques-us-politics-years) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck 12 August 2026. The critic calls it a hilarious delight and one of the best live-action/animation hybrids ever. He singles out the clever gags, in-jokes, emotional resonance in the bond between Wile E. Coyote and the lawyer, and strong performances. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/coyote-vs-acme-review-looney-tunes-will-forte-john-cena-1236671221/) ## Vulture — Roxana Hadadi 28 August 2026. The critic describes the film as genuinely fun and funny, the best Looney Tunes-related property in well over a decade. She singles out its humorous and surprisingly heartfelt reckoning with corporate malfeasance. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-coyote-vs-acmes-argument-against-corporate-cruelty.html) ## Film Stories — Simon Brew Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic loved the film despite its troubled production history, calling it ridiculously entertaining and the funniest of the year. They single out its reverence for the original cartoons and seamless blend of slapstick, legal thriller elements, and corporate satire. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/coyote-vs-acme-review-the-movie-they-tried-to-bury/) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 August 2026. The critic praises director Dave Green and screenwriter Samy Burch for creating a smart, resourceful live-action/animated comedy that respects the Looney Tunes source material while innovating on the legal thriller premise from Ian Frazier's story. They single out the film's exploration of existential themes and consumerist satire inherent in the Coyote's endless pursuits. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2026/08/28/movies/coyote-vs-acme-review-wile-e-coyote-road-runner-history-looney-tunes) ## /Film — Witney Seibold Rating 6.5/10. 12 August 2026. The review finds the film merely okay and too kid-friendly overall, with an intriguing anti-corporate premise that fails to deliver on its potential as a sharper legal thriller spoof. They single out the light tone and animation choices for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/2235232/coyote-vs-acme-movie-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond 12 August 2026. The critic calls the film the most entertaining Warner Bros. release of 2026 and the best live-action/animation hybrid since Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He praises its smart, funny, heartwarming qualities and the ingenious courtroom premise pitting Wile E. Coyote against the Acme Corporation. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2026/08/coyote-vs-acme-review-movie-warner-bros-shelved-2023-1237031528/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3.5 out of 5. 12 August 2026. The critic finds the film pretty good and a feel-good story due to its release despite corporate issues, praising its commitment to Looney Tunes humor and Will Forte's performance, but notes it struggles with comedic elements and leans too much into legal thriller tropes. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/coyote-vs-acme-review-justice-looney-tunes/) ## The Wrap 12 August 2026. The critic deems the film gut-bustingly hilarious, intelligent and moving, a successful parody of courtroom dramas that also delivers genuine emotional underdog impact. He singles out the comic timing of the sight gags and the screenplay's balance of story and laughs. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/coyote-vs-acme-review-warner-bros/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/coyote-vs-acme.md