Household name characters, a classic sci-fi plot, and the Looney Tunes laughs we all know and love, burst onto the big screen
★★★☆☆
It seems near impossible to believe that it’s taken until now to have a theatrical, feature-length Looney Tunes animation, but the time has finally arrived. The Day The Earth Blew Up, a new Porky Pig and Daffy Duck adventure, claims the honour of being that special first—and it does so with incredible warmth and style. The film easily slips in with Looney Tunes cartoons of old, making it the perfect Saturday morning watch for kids and kids-at-heart alike.
In this iteration of these characters, Porky Pig and Daffy Duck (both voiced by Eric Bauza) were raised from youth by Farmer Jim, but since his death, the pair have found their lives, and their house, slipping into further disarray. When a passing UFO zapping their roof causes them to fail a home inspection, the pair must get jobs to raise money to make the appropriate fixes.
However, their job at the chewing gum factory gets them much more than they bargained for, not only in the form of a love interest for Porky, (flavour scientist Petunia Pig), but in the elaborate alien mind-control plot uncovered by Daffy. Our heroes are forced to be just that, as they seek to save the world before it blows up!
The narrative stays simple, but perfectly leans into the tropes of its genre. It successfully establishes itself as a compelling sci-fi, with elements of horror that are well pitched to the demographic. Whether it’s their first time seeing chewing gum possess someone, or watching our heroes hiding as we see the looming monsters’ silhouettes on the other side of the curtains, viewers will be moved to the edge of their seats. Joshua Moshier’s brilliant score helps to expand the world, bearing likeness to sci-fi B-movies from which it draws its inspiration.
That being said, the story never loses its silliness and sense of play—it’s a Looney Tunes comedy through and through. From a perfectly placed needledrop of ‘It’s the End of the World’, to pathetically stupid henchman, to a very 2020s villain motive reveal, it succeeds repeatedly in bringing out the laughs. And while the latter is specific to the time in which the film is made, for the most part, The Day The Earth Blew Up refuses to fall into the trap of leaning heavily on the cultural zeitgeist for its humour (apart from a scene in which Daffy gets cancelled for a viral video). In doing so, it remains timeless, crafting a cartoon akin to the ones many audiences will have grown up watching.
Characters are fleshed out as fully as possible over the short runtime, and their dynamics create moments of real empathy. Their personability is heightened by the expressive style of animation, which combines both the familiar Looney Tunes look and elements such as watercolour brush strokes that paint Farmer Jim’s scenes.
The Day The Earth Blew Up is nothing particularly groundbreaking or new, but its theatrical release is testament to the fact that people still want to see these animated stories on the big screen. It’s the sort of family movie that is so often missing from the cinema slate, but is absolutely the calibre of storytelling that children deserve. With Coyote Vs. Acme having to fight Warner Bros tooth and nail for a release, and eventually pulling through, this film fills the gap to wait until then with good, honest, alien-fighting fun.
The Verdict
It’s always enjoyable to be reunited with characters we know and love, in an animation style that is inherently nostalgic while never losing its freshness. A simple, entertaining time at the movies for the whole family, with perfect nods to the genres that inspired it.
Words by Rehana Nurmahi
Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up will be in UK & Irish cinemas from 13th February 2026
Support the Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.