Early 2000s and 90s babies have rallied together in excitement over the release of “Coyote VS Acme.”A project that was initially set to hit the big screen in 2023, but got shelved by Warner Brothers in an attempt to cashout a $30 million tax write-off instead of releasing the film. It’s unfortunately not uncommon within the movie industry to shelve films mid production, however, for a film to be completely finished and then shelved is hardly ever heard of.
In defense of the choice, Warner Brothers explained that “Barbie” was also set to come out in the summer of 2023, and there were many shifting parts within the company, money was tight, so they lead with “Barbie” deciding “Coyote VS Acme” would likely not make as big of a box office splash.
Fans and industry members alike ended up coming together in protest over Warners Brothers’ choice and pushed for the film to be released. Some creatives went as far as to refuse to work with the production company until they released the film.
Warners Brothers, pressured into the choice to not shelve the film, shopped around major streaming platforms like Netflix, Paramount and Amazon, in an attempt to sell the film for between $75 and $80 million. After no takers, Warner Brothers eventually sold it in 2025 to Ketchup Entertainment, a private independent production company for $50 million; giving up on making money off the movie that originally cost them $70 million to create.
The irony of this film’s tumultuous battle to be released was not lost on me nor do I imagine many other movie goers, as the plot mirrors the real life hoops the movie had to face to finally make it to theaters. The film stars Will Forte as lawyer Kevin Avery, Lana Condor as Paige, John Cena as Buddy Crane president of Acme Corporation and Eric Bauza as Wile E. Coyote and many of the other animated characters’ voices.
The plot follows Wile E. Coyote on his journey to sue Acme Corporation for all the years of pain and suffering he has undergone while using their products to attempt to catch the Road Runner. Coyote ends up finding his way via a comedically timed television commercial of Kevin Avery offering to get cartoon characters money, if they have ever fallen victim to a “falling piano” or a “parachute backpack, where the parachute has been filled with silverware?”
Having heard many of the same unfortunate experiences he’s encountered, Coyote travels into Albuquerque, New Mexico, follows the massive obnoxious billboards and finds his way to Avery’s office.
Upon discovering that Avery is less of a lawyer and more of a settler, Coyote, in a very cartoonish fashion, tricks Avery into helping him and fully embarking on a legal journey to take down Acme corporation.
As someone who was born in the late ‘90s this film hit me hard with nostalgia. Filmed in a very similar fashion to other live-action animation crossover movies like, “Space Jam,” “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” “Scooby-Doo Spooky Island,” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” This movie brought me right back to my childhood.
Forte also does a wonderful job playing a smarmy lawyer, comparable to Bob Odenkirk’s Saul Goodman, from hit television series “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.”
Cena also crushed the role of the profit obsessed, narcissistic, overgrown frat boy turned CEO, nailing his line delivery and earning just as many laughs as Forte. The film wasn’t all just laughs though, the moral lessons found their way through, as did the heartfelt moments. I was shocked to find myself brought nearly to tears by some of the animated coyote’s ‘ voiceless yet emotional deliveries.
As of now, the film has grossed $28.5 million globally in its first week. With a little bit of something for all ages, this movie is a must watch, be it with your family or with your friends. Earning a solid 4 out of 5 on the spicy scale for sticking it to the man and getting to the big screen. I highly recommend you make your way to the theaters to see this one and add to those sales to prove Warner Brothers failed in attempting to keep it shelved.