Warner Bros pulls classic ‘Looney Tunes’ from Max, sparking backlash

In a surprising shake-up for animation fans, Warner Bros Discovery has pulled all classic “Looney Tunes” episodes from its streaming platform, Max, as of March 16, 2025. This move erases the legendary antics of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig from the service, leaving viewers bewildered and disappointed.

While modern adaptations like “New Looney Tunes” and “Tiny Toons Looniversity” remain accessible, the removal of the original classics has sparked speculation about the company’s strategy—prompting concerns that this may be yet another questionable decision regarding its treasured animation legacy.

This latest removal mirrors a similar controversy from November 2023, when Warner Bros Discovery initially announced that classic “Looney Tunes” shorts would disappear from Max by the end of the year.

The revelation sparked immediate outrage among fans, who flooded social media with complaints about the loss of such an integral piece of animation history. In a dramatic turnaround, the company quickly backtracked, calling the removal a “mistake” and assuring viewers that the shorts would remain.

While that reversal temporarily reassured subscribers, the current disappearance raises fresh concerns—either signaling a calculated shift in Warner Bros Discovery’s content strategy or another case of internal miscommunication.

As of now, the company has remained silent, leaving audiences uncertain whether the classics are gone for good or if this is yet another behind-the-scenes blunder.

The removal of “Looney Tunes” classics—spanning from the 1930s to the early 2000s—marks a significant blow to animation history. These iconic shorts, shaped by visionaries like Tex Avery and Chuck Jones, have long been revered for their inventive storytelling, visual brilliance, and enduring humour.

Their disappearance from Max is the latest in a series of content purges under CEO David Zaslav, whose tenure has been defined by cost-cutting measures, including shelving completed projects like “Coyote vs Acme” for tax benefits and slashing animated content across the board.

In 2024 alone, Max quietly removed over 250 “Looney Tunes” shorts from the 1950s onward, drastically shrinking its once-expansive archive. Now, with the pre-1950s catalog also wiped out, the platform’s once-celebrated collection has been reduced to nothing.

For longtime fans, the absence of classic “Looney Tunes” is deeply felt. While “New Looney Tunes” and “Tiny Toons Looniversity” offer fresh takes tailored to modern audiences, they lack the unfiltered, chaotic energy that made the originals timeless.

The 2020 “Looney Tunes” reboot remains available on Max, but it doesn’t fill the void left by the hand-drawn classics that defined generations.

Many viewers argue that while these newer adaptations bring their own charm, they simply can’t match the cultural impact or nostalgic appeal of Bugs Bunny effortlessly outwitting Elmer Fudd in a vintage short.

With no official word on whether the originals will return, fans now face greater difficulty accessing these beloved cartoons through legal streaming platforms.

The timing couldn’t be more perplexing. With “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie”—the franchise’s first fully animated feature without live-action elements—recently hitting theatres, interest in “Looney Tunes” is surging.

Yet, rather than leveraging this renewed enthusiasm, Warner Bros Discovery has instead removed the very classics that laid the foundation for the series.

Whether this decision stems from cost-cutting efforts, licensing complications, or yet another internal oversight remains uncertain. Until the company provides clarity, the future of these animated gems remains in limbo.

For now, fans are left wondering if “That’s all, folks” is no longer just a signature sign-off, but a definitive farewell to a cherished era of animation.