The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie

(dir. Peter Browngardt)

By: Adam Freed

Now feels like the perfect time to contemplate Earth’s demise.  While the morbidity of the subject matter is hardly new to movies, the pronounced escalation of hurricanes, wildfires and melting polar ice, not to mention the high voltage state of the American political landscape makes the conversation feel far less theoretical than ever.  So who better to explore potential global extinction than one of the most reliable and time tested names in entertainment, Looney Tunes.  Since 1930 the dependable animation giant has pushed the boundaries of comedy via short form storytelling.  The secret behind the Warner Bros. property is creating a memorable cast of diverse animal characters, all of whom are relatable and just lovable enough to hold close, no matter how much time passes between encounters.  In the case of director Peter Browngardt’s feature length animated action comedy, The Day the Earth Blew Up he leans into classic Looney Tunes stars Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, who first appeared in 1935 and 1937 respectively.  The secret sauce to Browngardt’s new iteration of a nearly century old concept is that The Day the Earth Blew Up leans into its zany comedic roots while embracing a modern world, seemingly unrecognizable to the one in which the main characters were born.  The result is a genuinely hilarious take on modern animation, and the early leader in the clubhouse as 2025’s best animated picture.   

The iconic Pig and Duck here play adopted brothers, raised together under the tutelage of the kind-hearted Farmer Jim, a fatherly figure who departs their lives almost as quickly as he enters.  Farmer Jim is around just long enough to allow for the siblings to embrace a shared moral code that drives the duo’s noble decision making throughout the film. Porky Pig, ever the straight man, fighting to overcome his lovable stutter, must withstand the maniacal aid of Daffy Duck in order to stop the Earth from meeting its potential demise at the hands of a pop culture obsessed alien overlord whose plan for global domination is both entertaining and keenly executed.  There are very few moments in The Day the Earth Blew Up that allow for wandering minds, as the lightning paced comedy is as propulsive as it is laugh out loud funny.  In the film’s most uproarious moments, the animated comedic duo reduce themselves back down to their more recognizable 4:3 visual aspect ratio in the midst of a job search to save their home.  This wonderfully crafted scene not only highlights the comedic writing chops of Browngardt along with script partners Alex Kirwon and Kevin Costello, but also anchors the film’s tonal heartbeat as one that lovingly leans on the ninety year history of Daffy and Porky while never stopping to wear that fact as a badge of honor.    

Comedy is hard, animated comedy is even harder.  Perhaps going back to the classics, so long as they are placed in the gifted hands of storytellers like Peter Browngardt, is the solution.  The result of this organizational choice is The Day the Earth Blew Up, a global disaster comedy that has far more to say than its marketing materials may suggest.  Witnessing the age-old wonder of Looney Tunes presented in a beautifully animated and thoughtfully crafted manner is enough to prompt families to begin a deep dive into the illustrious history of Daffy, Porky and the entire gang.  

Target Score: 8/10    Although the subject matter and a few of the more edgy jokes in The Day the Earth Blew Up test the boundaries of its PG rating, this Looney Tunes adventure is one that anyone with an attention span capable of a 90 minute theater trip is sure to remember.  Delightfully funny and alluringly animated, The Day the Earth Blew Up offers proof that Looney Tunes aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.