Warner Bros. Discovery has quietly removed Looney Tunes from its Max streaming service, claiming a shift toward prioritizing “adult and family programming.” While the company’s reasoning remains vague, the decision has left fans questioning why one of the most iconic family-friendly franchises is no longer available.
For nearly a century, Looney Tunes has been a staple of animation, influencing generations with its humor, creativity, and slapstick comedy. Characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Wile E. Coyote have become cultural icons, making their sudden disappearance from Max all the more confusing. Moreover, the removal wasn’t widely announced, leaving many subscribers surprised when they went to watch their favorite cartoons only to find them gone.
The WB logo before a Looney Tunes cartoon – YouTube, Public Domain Remastered
At the same time, the franchise’s latest movies are struggling to find an audience—not due to lack of interest, but because they aren’t being promoted.
A Movie That No One Knows Exists
It’s not surprising that you may not have heard that The Looney Tunes movie The Day the Earth Blew Up recently released. That’s because there was little to no marketing for it.
The animated sci-fi comedy, starring Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, is the first fully animated film in the franchise based on original material. The film features the duo uncovering an alien invasion plot inside a bubblegum factory, mixing classic slapstick with eerie The Thing-inspired body horror.
Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in the Looney Tunes movie The Day The Earth Blew Up – YouTube, WB Kids
Despite its unique concept, Warner Bros. barely marketed the movie, leading to widespread audience unawareness. Many fans were unaware of its release because was distributed through limited platforms. So far, critical reception has been positive, praising its animation and humor, but its lack of exposure could prevent it from gaining the recognition it deserves.
The Uncertain Fate of Coyote vs. Acme
Meanwhile, another Looney Tunes film nearly disappeared altogether. Coyote vs. Acme, a live-action/animation hybrid starring Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation, was initially scrapped despite positive test screenings. Warner Bros. shelved the movie in late 2023, supposedly for tax write-off reasons, a move that sparked outrage among animation professionals and fans.
A screenshot from the trailer for the Looney Tunes movie The Day The Earth Blew Up – YouTube, WB Kids
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The decision led to major backlash from Hollywood creatives, with many calling out the studio’s increasing pattern of shelving completed films for financial reasons. The controversy forced Warner Bros. to reconsider, and the film was eventually put up for sale. Now, Ketchup Entertainment, the groupd responsible for The Day the Earth Blew Up, is reportedly purchasing Coyote vs. Acme for around $50 million—significantly less than its original $70 million budget. If the deal finalizes, the film may finally get a proper release, though it remains to be seen how widely it will be distributed.
What’s the Future of Looney Tunes?
The removal of Looney Tunes from Max, combined with the mishandling of new movies, raises questions about Warner Bros.’ long-term plans for the franchise. If Looney Tunes is still considered valuable, why is it being sidelined? And if it isn’t, why continue producing new content?
Some speculate that Warner Bros. is shifting focus toward newer intellectual properties, while others believe the company is struggling to manage its animation division effectively. With recent high-profile cancellations and budget cuts, it seems that traditional animation is being deprioritized in favor of live-action and more marketable franchises.
Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in a classic Looney Tunes cartoon – YouTube, Public Domain Remastered
For now, the fate of these beloved characters remains uncertain. Fans can only hope that Coyote vs. Acme finds success and that Warner Bros. realizes Looney Tunes deserves better than quiet removals and forgotten releases.
Why do you think WB is hiding the Looney Tunes? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
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The article could at least mention that Looney Tunes–along with several other cartoons–were licensed out to TUBI, a free platform you don’t even need to sign up for to use. If Max wants to drop a grenade on their foot like this, let them. But let’s not stir panic that there’s no way to see Bugs, Daffy, and the lot anymore.
To be fair, positive critic accolades or not, *The Day the Earth Blew Up* wasn’t a good movie. We saw it this weekend, and all of us, young to old, thought it had its moments but generally wasn’t worth it.