The Day the Earth Blew Up was released in the US in March 2025, but has taken almost a year to come to the UK for some reason.
Still, I’ll put this upfront that it’s great to see a Cinemascope-style cartoon on the big screen in the modern era, especially one that makes really good use of the widescreen frame. A few months back we had the re-release of Lady And The Tramp for its 70th anniversary, and they just make you realise how badly truncated we had to suffer them cropped to 4:3 for Disney Time on BBC1.
…as well as the fact that the series was presented by Rolf Harris!
For want of a plot, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Eric Bauza – The Super Mario Bros Movie) live together, but their house’s roof is smashed open by an asteroid… or was it caused by a UFO? Oh, the plot thinnens…
Wayne Knight also pops up as the Mayor. Should’ve been a landlord, as he was in both Seinfeld and GOAT 😉
Still, since housing inspector Mrs. Grecht (Laraine Newman – Despicable Me 4 3D) is on her way for the annual checkup, surely the pair can fix everything up within the morning? No problem… maybe.
Well, since sitting at home, watching Jeremy Vine won’t pay the bills, they have to get a job at a factory, leading to Porky meeting his destiny, Petunia Pig (Candi Milo – The Cuphead Show), whilst also dealing with a space invader (Peter MacNicol – Ghostbusters II) who wants to get everyone on the planet partaking in his chewing gum, which turns people into zombies.
So, plenty for Daffy and Porky to get their teeth stuck into (as long as it’s not the gum), in order to fix their humble abode and save Planet Earth before it falls to an alien invasion, but while the Earth doesn’t really blow up in The Day the Earth Blew Up, this cartoon really does retain the old-style charm as if time has never passed since you saw them on TV as a kid, and I hope we get more of this.
The Day the Earth Blew Up is in cinemas now, and is available to pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD, ahead of its release on April 20th 2026.
NOTE: There is a mid- and post-credit scene, as per the video below.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 91 minutes
Release date: February 13th 2026
Studio: Vertigo Releaasing
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 (Dolby Vision), 1.33:1 (one section)
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 7.5/10
Director: Pete Browngardt
Screenplay: Darrick Bachman, Pete Browngardt, Kevin Costello, Andrew Dickman, David Gemmill, Alex Kirwan, Ryan Kramer, Jason Reicher, Michael Ruocco, Johnny Ryan, Eddie Trigueros
Characters: Tex Avery
Music: Joshua Moshier
Voice Cast:
Daffy Duck / Porky Pig: Eric Bauza
Petunia Pig / Old Lady: Candi Milo
The Invader: Peter MacNicol
News Anchor / Gary: Carlos Alazraqui
Scientist / Farmer Jim: Fred Tatasciore
Coffee Shop Customer / Spaceship Computer: Kimberly Brooks
Mrs. Grecht: Laraine Newman
Bully / Roofer Joe: Pete Browngardt
Mayor: Wayne Knight
Town Kid: Rachel Butera
Waitress Maude: Ruth Clampett
Chewy: Keith Ferguson
Floor Manager: Andrew Kishino
Flavor Scientist / Theater Audience Guy: Nick Simotas
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.