Coyote vs. Acme (2026): Cast, Plot, Where to Watch
By Sam Carter · · Updated
Coyote vs. Acme has been in theaters since August 28, 2026. See the full cast, the courtroom plot, and what we still don't know about where to watch it next.
Coyote vs. Acme Is Finally Out, and It Sounds Wonderfully Absurd
Coyote vs. Acme came out in US theaters on August 28, 2026, after premiering in the US on July 25, 2026. It's a 103-minute comedy from director Dave Green, and it currently holds a 7.5/10 rating on TMDB.
The pitch is irresistible. Wile E. Coyote, a man (well, a coyote) who has been betrayed by faulty rockets and defective anvils for generations, finally takes his grievances to court. Honestly? That premise is wild, and it's the kind of idea that makes you wonder why nobody did it sooner.
Here's what you'll find below: who's in the cast, what the story is about, where you can rent or buy it, and a straight answer on whether it's worth your evening.
- Coyote vs. Acme is a 103-minute Comedy, Adventure and Family film directed by Dave Green.
- It premiered in the US on July 25, 2026, and reached US theaters on August 28, 2026.
- Will Forte, Lana Condor and John Cena lead the cast.
- You can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home and Plex.
- It holds a 7.5/10 rating on TMDB.
The Lawsuit at the Heart of Coyote vs. Acme
The story follows Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation after its products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner. To do it, he hires a billboard lawyer. That's the whole setup, and it's a clever one.
The tagline sells the attitude: "The movie ACME doesn't want you to see." It's a wink at the cartoon's long history of products that never work as advertised, and I think it's a smart way to frame a courtroom comedy for a family audience.
Here's the thing about the genres: it's tagged as Comedy, Adventure and Family. So don't expect a gritty legal drama. Expect slapstick, a chase or two, and a story that moves quickly enough to hold a mixed-age crowd.
Picking something for movie night? A premise this simple is a gift. Everyone in the room already knows the Coyote, the Roadrunner and the endless parade of doomed gadgets.
Will Forte, Lana Condor and John Cena Lead the Cast
The human cast is led by Will Forte as Kevin Avery and Lana Condor as Paige Avery, with John Cena playing Buddy Crane. Dave Green directs.
The full list of named roles is below.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Will Forte | Kevin Avery |
| Lana Condor | Paige Avery |
| John Cena | Buddy Crane |
| Tone Bell | Sal Maltese |
| Martha Kelly | Dottie Jones |
| Luis Guzmán | Judge Troppogrosso |
| P.J. Byrne | Bill Pellicanos |
| John Early | Henry Heslop |
The cast alone? Impressive for a family comedy. Forte has a long track record of playing lovable messes, Cena is reliably game for physical comedy, and Luis Guzmán as a judge named Troppogrosso is the sort of casting that makes me grin before a single scene plays.
Why the Courtroom Cast Matters
A lawsuit movie lives or dies on its supporting players. The judge, the rival lawyers and the odd clients are where the jokes pile up, so a bench with Guzmán, Byrne, Early and Martha Kelly gives the film plenty of comic range outside its leads.
Where to Watch Coyote vs. Acme Now
You can rent or buy Coyote vs. Acme digitally in the US on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home and Plex. No subscription streaming service is confirmed to carry it now.
That's worth knowing before you go hunting through your usual apps. If you're waiting for it to land on a subscription platform, no date has been announced yet. Check JustWatch or your preferred digital store for current listings, and look at the store pages for the latest rent and buy pricing.
It also played in theaters. It opened in Israel on August 20, 2026, and came out in US theaters on August 28, 2026, so some viewers will already have seen it on a big screen.
My practical take: for a family movie night, renting is the easy move. It's 103 minutes, which is short enough that nobody falls asleep and long enough to feel like a proper film.
A 7.5/10 TMDB Score for Coyote vs. Acme
Going by the 7.5/10 TMDB rating, audiences are responding well. That's a solid score for a family comedy, and it suggests the lawsuit gimmick holds up for the full runtime.
I'd recommend it if you like the old Looney Tunes spirit and want something the whole household can sit through together. If you liked the idea of a cartoon icon dragged into the real world of lawyers and billboards, this is built for you.
My one honest hesitation is the usual one with a one-joke premise. Can a single running gag carry a feature? Judging by the rating and that cast, I'm optimistic it can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coyote vs. Acme a real movie coming out?
Yes, it's real, and it's already out. Coyote vs. Acme premiered in the US on July 25, 2026, and reached US theaters on August 28, 2026. It's directed by Dave Green, runs 103 minutes, and you can now rent or buy it digitally on stores like Amazon Video and Apple TV Store (see its IMDb page).
What was the controversy surrounding the movie Coyote vs. Acme?
The controversy was about its fate before release. Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the finished film in November 2023 to take a tax write-off, then reversed course after public backlash and let the filmmakers find another distributor. Ketchup Entertainment acquired the worldwide rights in March 2025 in a reported $50 million deal, which led to the theatrical release on August 28, 2026. Its tagline, "The movie ACME doesn't want you to see," plays on both the lawsuit premise and that real-life fight.
Is Coyote vs. Acme a good movie?
Audiences seem to think so. Coyote vs. Acme holds a 7.5/10 rating on TMDB, which is strong for a family comedy. With Will Forte, Lana Condor and John Cena leading the cast, and a fun lawsuit premise, it looks like a safe pick for a family movie night (see its Rotten Tomatoes page).
Is Coyote vs. Acme, which was shelved, still being released in August 2026?
It was released. Coyote vs. Acme opened in Israel on August 20, 2026, and came out in US theaters on August 28, 2026. It's no longer a pending release. You can now rent or buy it digitally, and no subscription streaming date has been announced.
A Fun Family Pick That Earns Its Rating
Coyote vs. Acme takes a simple, funny idea and surrounds it with a cast that clearly knows how to sell a joke. The 7.5/10 TMDB score backs that up.
My call: this is the family comedy most likely to get rewatched on repeat.
Ready to see it? Rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home or Plex, and check JustWatch for the latest listings before you hit play.