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♫ Everybody get up, it's time to slam now
We got a real jam goin' down
Welcome to the Space Jam
Here's your chance, do your dance at the Space Jam
All right...♫
"Come on and slam, and welcome to the jam!"

This 1996 live-action/animated film is what happens when you base a feature-length film upon a sneaker commercial. Really. Nike had ordered a few commercials featuring Michael Jordan and an animated Bugs Bunny facing off against alien cartoon characters. After a meeting between producer Ivan Reitman and Nike executives, it was decided to turn the concept into a feature film; the end result was Space Jam, and the rest is history.

The Looney Tunes must recruit NBA superstar Michael Jordan to play on their basketball team. They need Jordan's help because these aliens called Nerdlucks intend to take them back to their planet, and make them the new attractions for their evil boss Swackhammer's evil theme park. Bugs, noting how tiny the Nerdlucks are, decides to challenge them to a basketball game.

This backfires when it turns out that the Nerdlucks can steal the "talent" from athletes (they do this to NBA players Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, and Shawn Bradley in one of the movie's many, many subplots). This transforms them into the Monstars (aka — wait for it — The Mean Team). This is where Michael Jordan comes in, but during the time period the film is set in, he had retired to play baseball (and that's not bad writing, that actually happened). Thankfully, he wasn't drained of his skills and had actually just unretired at the time the film was made. note  According to this film, saving the Looney Tunes is the reason why he returned to basketball.

Space Jam is notable for introducing Bugs' girlfriend Lola Bunny, who has been featured in most Looney Tunes projects made since then. It's not to be confused with Looney Tunes: Back in Action, which was allegedly made to be the direct antithesis of this movie. It was also one of the earliest movies to feature a tie-in website, which is still running to this day (and has not been updated since 1998).note 

There was even a follow-up video game.

A sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy, was released on July 16, 2021. A crossover with Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! See Space Jam, was released to tie in with the sequel.

Not related to the jam used in Spaceballs.

Michael's Secret Trope Examples:

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  • 11th-Hour Superpower: Michael uses Toon Physics to stretch his arm long enough to score the winning dunk.
  • 20 Minutes into the Past: The movie opens in 1973, with 10-year old Michael Jordan shooting some hoops and talking with his father about his future. After the opening credits, It shifts to Michael Jordan's 1993 press conference about his initial retirement from basketball. It is mostly set in 1994, and ends with Jordan's return to basketball in 1995.
  • Absurdly High-Stakes Game: The Big Game is played to decide the fate of all the Looney Tunes characters as slaves to Swackhammer or not. Michael Jordan proceeds to raise the stakes by offering himself in servitude as well.
  • Acquired Situational Narcissism: The Nerdlucks become cocky upon turning into Monstars. Bang is the most pronounced example, going from nervous and concerned to aggressive and arrogant enough to taunt Michael Jordan.
  • Actor Allusion:
    • When Bill Murray appears in the game, Swackhammer confuses him with Dan Aykroyd, and Murray mentions that "the producer" gave him a ride to the portal. Murray and Aykroyd did the Ghostbusters movies together, which were directed by producer Ivan Reitman.
    • During the therapy sessions, Larry Johnson says that his grandmother can play better than him (reference to a series of Converse ads where he played his "Grandmama"), Shawn Bradley says he could "go back to the jungle as a missionary", and Charles Barkley brings up an old rumor declaring that "I'm never gonna go out with Madonna again."
  • Adam Westing: Bill Murray freely admits he has no place in this story.
  • Adaptational Alternate Ending: The Junior Novelization has one, in which the Road Runner comes in and scores the second-to-last point of the game instead of Bill Murray. This was based on the original planned ending for the film.
  • Adaptation Expansion: It's basically a feature-length version of an Air Jordan commercial where Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny played basketball against aliens. The director is even the same.
  • Adorable Evil Minions: The Nerdlucks, before they become the Monstars.
  • Affably Evil: Blanko is rather nice compared to the other Monstars. He tells Michael he has cool shoes, and he shows concern for Tweety when he is hurt by Bang. However, he does have one Kick the Dog moment when he flattens Sniffles the mouse who was talking to him.
  • Again with Feeling: After the Nerdlucks lose by a narrow margin, Swackhammer takes all of his frustration out on them, going as far as smashing Bupkus's foot. Michael Jordan asks why they put up with him; Bupkus explains that it's because Swackhammer is bigger — and in repeating the line, his friends realize that it's no longer true.
    Michael Jordan: Why do you take it from this guy?
    Bupkus: (fearfully) Because he's bigger.
    Pound: He's...bigger? (eyes widen)
    Bang: (bitterly) Than we used...(eyes widen too) to be.
    (All the Monstars say 'Oooh,' realizing that they're MUCH bigger than their Bad Boss)
  • Airplane Arms: Hubie and Bertie, cartoon mice, conduct the intros for the Tune Squad. As Hubie intros Michael Jordan, he uses the honorific "His Royal Airness", at which Bertie stops munching cheese and assumes the spread-arm airplane pose, mimicking an airplane making turns.
  • Aliens Are Bastards: Mr. Swackhammer, the main antagonist, who is also a Bad Boss to the Nerdlucks.
  • Aliens of London: Swackhammer retains Danny DeVito's natural Central New Jersey accent while Blanko has a Californian accent.
  • Aliens Speaking English: The Nerdlucks all speak English.
  • All There in the Script: The individual names of the Monstars are never mentioned in the film; however, they are given in the ending credits, the storyboards and the merchandise. Their pre-Monstar species is "Nerdluck", and their individual names are Pound (the orange one), Bang (the green one), Bupkus (the purple one), Nawt (the red one) and Blanko (the blue one).
  • Always a Live Transmission: Michael Jordan's kids are watching Wile E Coyote And The Roadrunner when, out of nowhere, Porky comes in to say everyone is needed immediately and everybody leaves the scene. The kids are left with only an empty background to see.
  • Amusing Injuries: Done with both the Looney Tunes and the live-action actors. Michael Jordan is compressed into a ball which is then dribbled, passed and dunked. Stan Podolak is Squashed Flat under all five Monstars.
  • And I'm the Queen of Sheba: When Michael Jordan tells Bugs Bunny that he doesn't play basketball anymore and is now playing baseball, Bugs sarcastically replies, "Right, and I'm a Shakespearean actor." Bugs even pulls out a skull in reference to Hamlet's lament upon Yorick the jester's skull.
  • Angry Guard Dog: When Bugs and Daffy have to sneak into Michael Jordan's house to get his basketball gear and lucky shorts, Daffy gets to deal with Jordan's very, very angry guard dog Charles.
  • Animal Athlete Loophole: The Toons challenge the tiny aliens to a game of basketball, not expecting them to cheat and steal the talents of actual basketball players, necessitating them to add Michael Jordan to the team.
  • Animated World Hypotheses: The Looney Tunes characters live in their own, animated world while the humans live in ours. When Bugs and Daffy cross over, Daffy calls our world "3D-land."
  • Are We There Yet?: Blanko asks this twice, in one case following a Dope Slap.
  • Armor-Piercing Question: Michael Jordan prompt the Nerdlucks' Heel–Face Turn with a single question: "Why do you take it from [Swackhammer]?" In the process of explaining, they realize they no longer have to.
  • Art Shift: Mr. Swackhammer fantasizing about Jordan working at Moron Mountain. It's kinda scary. The implications of it are even scarier (Jordan never being able to see his family again, and living his life in misery); this is what he had to risk in order to retrieve his friends' stolen talent.
  • Artistic License – History:
    • If you wanna get technical, this movie is this towards Michael Jordan's retirement and return to basketball. In real life, Jordan retired from basketball due to burnout from the game, which was accelerated by participating in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics and the murder of his father, joined Minor League Baseball for a few years and returned to basketball due to a combination of not wanting to be considered a "replacement player" during the 1994-95 Major League Baseball strike and the Chicago Bulls faltering heavily. As well, while he was considered a decent player, the movie considers him a terrible player who is way out of his league. Maybe it's just people's expectations as compared to basketball.
    • In the opening scene, a young Jordan tells his father he wants to attend and play basketball for the University of North Carolina. While Michael’s mother was Carolina fan, he was in fact a devoted N.C. State fan and hated the Tar Heels as a child.
  • Artistic License – Sports: Realistically, a basketball team, even one made up of elite players, would need a roster of more than just five for injuries, foul-outs, player fatigue, and/or stratgetic reasons. However, considering that this is the Looney Tunes universe, the Monstars are far stronger than the Tune Squad, negating the injury and tactical aspects, and most, if not all, fouls, whether realstic or cartoony, are disregarded for pacing and plot convienence.
  • Artistic Title: The opening credits are shown over a fast-paced montage of Michael Jordan's basketball highlights, set to the movie's theme song. This montage includes highlights from Michael's high school years, his college years, the 1984 (and 1992) Olympics, and his professional career (first stint) with the Chicago Bulls, essentially spanning from the late 70's to the early 90's, all leading up to the announcement of his first retirement from basketball in 1993.
  • Ash Face: When Bupkis falls for Wile E. Coyote's explosive booby-trap during their game with the Tune Squad, his face is blackened as a result.
  • As Himself: Jordan and a whole bunch of other celebs and basketball players. In light of who Mike hangs around with all day, it makes sense. Bugs Bunny also receives top billing under his own name.
  • Ass Kicking Pose: Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam do this during the second half slapstick montage after attacking one of the Monstars. It's a direct Shout-Out to Pulp Fiction.
  • Assumed Win: The Looney Tunes figured they had the game in the bag when they challenged the Nerdlucks to basketball, knowing that the sport was the worst possible game for them due to their physical size and traits. That gets thrown out the window once they mutate into the Monstars. On the other side, the Monstars and Swackhammer assumed they had the game in the bag since they stole the abilities of the top NBA players on Earth, but they also underestimated the Tunes as well as getting help from Michael Jordan.
  • Avoid the Dreaded G Rating:
    • In one scene, Michael is in his hotel room watching highlights of the NBA stars losing their talent. At one point, a coach says "What the hell's going on!?" Surely enough, the film got a PG rating for "Brief mild language".
    • Also another instance of mild language involves the conversation between Bugs and Daffy complaining about not getting money from merchandising ends with Daffy saying.
      Daffy: We've got to get new agents. We're getting screwed!
  • Award-Bait Song:
    • "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly.
    • They're each buried deeper in the credits, but both Monica's "For You I Will" and "I Turn to You" by All-4-One—each one written by Diane Warren—count too.
  • Badass Boast: "Hit'em High" is a song-shaped one for the Monstars. The best instance being the chorus:
  • Badass Normal: Played with — Jordan, when compared to his teammates (cartoon characters) and opponents (humongous aliens) is a mundane human. Then again, he's widely considered to be the greatest basketball player ever. And when he learns how to use Toon Physics, well...
  • Bait-and-Switch: Bugs asking Daffy if he saw all the Jordan kids' toys and lunchboxes of them has a really hopeful, soft tone to it, and it sounds like he's about to say something touching about being an inspiration or something. Instead:
    Bugs: You, uh, ever see any money from that stuff?
  • Bare Midriffs Are Feminine: Lola Bunny wears an athletic, midriff-baring outfit whereas the male Looney Tunes mostly don't wear clothes at all. When donning basketball gear, Lola's top is also midriff-baring and much shorter than her male teammates' full-length shirts.
  • Barefoot Cartoon Animal: Lola Bunny, as well as the other furry characters in their Tune Squad uniforms. This is lampshaded when Jordan gets his golf cleats stuck to the floorboards and asks if the toons have a pair of basketball shoes he could borrow — cut to a few shots of the toons' feet and baffled looks.
  • Baseball Episode: For a given value of "live action", Space Jam is like a movie-length version of this for the Looney Tunes franchise with basketball instead of baseball. Funnily enough, Michael Jordan is actually playing baseball in his first appearance on screen.
  • Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Lola Bunny is the only main cartoon character that never suffers any kind of injury, or, indeed, any kind of indignity. Other characters (mainly Bugs) even deliberately take hits intended for her.
  • Been There, Shaped History: The movie posits that the Looney Tunes and evil cartoon aliens persuaded Michael Jordan to return to basketball. In a way, they were: as part of his contract, Michael Jordan demanded that Warner Brothers construct a basketball court with all imaginable amenities for him to practice himself back into shape.
  • Belly Flop Crushing: Attempted by Pound to Lola Bunny during the decisive game', but Bugs pushes her out of the way at the last moment and gets himself crushed instead.
  • Berserk Button:
    • Lola Bunny goes into a basket-busting frenzy whenever anyone calls her "doll."
    • Jordan has a few of these: Don't call him wussy man, don't call him chicken, don't call him washed up, and especially don't call him baldy.
  • Be the Ball: Happens to Jordan when he first meets the aliens. They invoke this trope to show off their stolen talent.
  • Big Bad: Swackhammer, whose evil desires drive the plot even though he himself doesn't have that much screentime.
  • Big Brother Instinct: What ultimately convinces Michael Jordan to help the Looney Tunes is when he sees the Monstars bullying Tweety after the little bird stands up for MJ when the Monstars start making fun of him.
  • Big Damn Heroes: Subverted by Stan, played straight by Bill Murray in a spectacular Deus ex machina fashion. The latter is Lampshaded hilariously by Swackhammer.
    Swackhammer: Whoa, whoa, whoa! I didn't know Dan Aykroyd was in this picture!
  • Big Damn Kiss: Lola gives one to Bugs after he saves her from being crushed by one of the Monstars.
    Lola: That was the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.
  • Big Entrance: Appropriately so. All the Monstars and three of the Tune Squad's starting five (Bugs, Lola and Taz) get awesome entrances. Daffy attempts his own but is met with silence, and while Michael receives a round of applause, his entrance is a more straightforward NBA-style affair with no crowd pandering.
  • Big Game: The climax of the movie is one big, epic and cartoony basketball game to decide the fate of the Looney Tunes.
  • Big Honking Traffic Jam: Cartoon cars are inching along the approach road to the basketball arena, honking horns and bumping each other to make progress. Michigan J. Frog can be seen dancing on one car's hood.
  • Binomium ridiculus: While the Tunes discussing what to do about the Nerdlucks, a chart with the Nerdlucks on it is seen. As a Freeze-Frame Bonus, each one has a fake scientific name under them. There's "Wormius Repulsus" (Bang), "Newtus Grodius" (Bupkus), "Dopus Elongatus" (Blanko), "Rotundus Tempermentus" (Pound), and "Minimus Whinius" (Nawt).
  • Biting-the-Hand Humor: See Lampshade Hanging.
  • Bizarre Beverage Use: This film has the Looney Tunes celebrate their victory over the Monstars. Daffy Duck uncorks a champagne bottle, and its carbonated discharge makes it zoom around like a bottle rocket. Daffy rides atop the bottle past the camera at one point. This was done to hide a mistake: one of the green-screen actors errantly ambled in front of the camera, so Daffy's bottle ride was animated to obscure the actor's passage.
  • Body Horror: The Monstars, especially the transformation sequence, where they grow freakishly large.
  • Borrowed Catchphrase: Near the end of the film, Jordan sarcastically calls Bugs Bunny "Doc".
  • Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs: How The Monstars get their collective name. After the aliens acquire the talent and transform we get this exchange.
    Daffy: Those little pipsqueaks turned into Superstars!
    Porky: T-T-T-They're Monsters!
    Sylvester: Sufferin' Succotash! They're Monstars!
  • Breath Weapon: One of the abilities of the Monstars is breathing fire.
    Foghorn Leghorn: Did you order original recipe or extra-crispy?
  • Bring My Brown Pants: Porky Pig wets himself after being frightened by one of the Mon-Stars.
  • Brush-Off Walk-Off: During the Ultimate Game, Daffy Duck finds himself holding the ball, causing the five Monstars target him. In a panic, Daffy passes the ball to Granny, who is sitting out of bounds, acting as a cheerleader. The Monstars switch target, and gang-tackle Granny. Lola Bunny gives Daffy a Death Glare, to which Daffy responds, "She was wide open." Lola says nothing, but turns her back on Daffy, nose high, not deigning to speak to such a cowardly poltroon.
  • Bull Seeing Red: Used at one point when Daffy Duck paints one of the Monstars' butts with red paint, which attracts the attention of the Bull from Bully for Bugs, who was sitting in the crowd at the time. Cue him ramming said Monstar in the gluteus maximus, sending him into the air screaming.
    Crowd: Ole!
  • Bully Hunter: What finally convinces Michael Jordan to take on the Monstars is when he sees them picking on little Tweety. The Monstars themselves get a moment at the end when they realize they are now big enough to stand up to Swackhammer.
  • Butt-Monkey: The film's plot revolves around a threat that for once can overpower even the wiliest of Looney Tunes. Even usually untouchable protagonist Bugs takes a few good lumps here, but Daffy gets the worst, as usual.
    Daffy Duck: [sarcastically] Very funny. Let's all laugh at the Duck.
  • Calling Parents by Their Name: When Moron Mountain is seen early in the film, an alien child calls his father Ray while telling him not to bring him to the park anymore.
  • The Cameo:
    • In the background of the Town Hall scene, there's a plaque of Bosko, the Talk-Ink Kid, most noticeable when Sam says "We ain't goin' nowhere!"
    • There are numerous cameos from other NBA stars in this film, which just adds to the confusion of whether this is a movie about Looney Tunes that randomly involves basketball, or a movie about Michael Jordan that randomly has the Looney Tunes in it. Those with the largest roles are Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson and Shawn Bradley, the five players whom the Monstars steal talents from. Larry Bird plays himself as Michael Jordan's golf buddy (a reference to another ad campaign Jordan was involved in). There's also cameos by Vlade Divac, Cedric Ceballos, Danny Ainge and Paul Westphal.
    • Television sport commentators Ahmad Rashād and Jim Rome also throw in brief cameos. Patricia Heaton (pre-Everybody Loves Raymond) and Dan Castellaneta are at the Knicks game.
  • Cameo Cluster: The town meeting and big game scenes feature many of the more obscure Looney Tunes characters in the audience.
  • Canon Immigrant:
  • Canon Welding: The classic Looney Tunes shorts usually featured only a few characters at a time and had no consistent setting. Space Jam was pretty much the first time that all the Looney Tunes were put together into one (somewhat) coherent universe. Well, unless you count Who Framed Roger Rabbit, in which they lived in a shared universe with the Disney characters, but they only had cameos in that.
  • Card-Carrying Villain: Swackhammer is more than a Bad Boss who abuses and terrorizes his Nerdluck minions, more than a Corrupt Corporate Executive willing to abduct the Looney Tunes to his theme park, more than a Sore Loser who smashes Bupkus's toes. He actually agrees to raise the stakes in the Ultimate Game, in which he'd take Michael Jordan as well to be Made a Slave as an attraction. See Rigged Spectacle Fight for more about that.
  • Carload of Cool Kids: Once Michael Jordan regains his feet after a slobbery greeting by his bulldog Charles, some passing young people in a convertible hail him with "Michael!" and wave.
  • Cassandra Truth: At one point, a psychic medium holds a seance with the five basketball players who lost their talents, and sees the entire plot of the movie up to that point. The players don't believe her and go off to try acupuncture.
  • Casting Gag:
    • In the Japanese dub, Kiyoyuki Yanada had previously played Takenori Akagi in the anime adaptation of Slam Dunk. Here, he voices both Patrick Ewing, the player that Akagi is based on, as well as Monstar Bang.
    • Dorian Harewood voiced the animated Michael Jordan on ProStars. Here, he voices the purple Monstar.
  • Casual Sports Jersey: The Monstars all wear basketball jerseys with the number zero. Curiously, they received these uniforms when absorbing the Liquid Assets of five NBA players, but retained the jerseys after forfeiting their powers. For the climactic basketball scenes, their uniforms were different. Averted with the Looney Tunes characters, who only wear athletic wear during the Ultimate Game.
  • Character as Himself: Bugs Bunny, rather than the actor playing him (in this case, Billy West), is credited as the co-star of the movie after Michael Jordan. Justified in that this is the movie's main selling point.
  • Chekhov's Gunman: Bill Murray first appears at Jordan's golf game talking about how he'd like to play in the NBA. He next shows up at the Looney Tunes' basketball game in a Big Damn Heroes moment.
  • Chirping Crickets: The reception that Daffy receives during player introductions.
  • Cigar Chomper: Mr. Swackhammer does this as a visual cue of his evilness.
  • Clothespin Nose Plug: After Stan is Squashed Flat and blown up like a balloon, he deflates back to normal by farting. Pepé Le Pew, of all characters, puts a clothespin on his nose.
  • Coincidental Dodge: Michael catches the news report about some of the top NBA players suddenly performing poorly on the court. He makes a comment about how he retired on time since that might've happened to him.
  • Colour-Coded for Your Convenience: Each of the Nerdlucks are associated with a specific color - Pound is orange, Nawt is red, Bupkus is purple, Bang is green, and Blanko is blue.
  • Comedic Work, Serious Scene: The film opens with a very young Michael Jordan practicing in his family's backyard court. When his father asks why he's up so late, Michael spells out his aspirations: to play at North Carolina University, then in the NBA, then play pro baseball, just like his father. All these aspirations come true, as shown during the opening credits, up to the point that Jordan has completed the three-peat with the Chicago Bulls, and is announcing his switch to baseball at a press conference. Then the scene pans into the sky, into space, and thence to Moron Mountain, where the lunacy begins.
  • Comic-Book Adaptation: David Cody Weiss wrote an adaptation for DC Comics.
  • Company Cameo: Daffy Duck replies to Porky saying that "we're Looney Tunes" by proudly declaring that they're "property of Warner Bros.", and then revealing the company's logo on his butt.
  • Conditioned to Be Weak: The Nerdlucks are normally very small and easily controlled by Mr. Swackhammer, who is comparatively bigger and stronger than them. When they absorb the powers of basketball players and become The Monstars, they still let him boss them around and abuse them despite looking physically stronger than him. After losing the match, The Monstars are again abused by Swackhamer but finally stand up to him after realizing they are now stronger than him and can fight back.
    Bupkis: Because he's bigger.
    Pound: He's bigger?!
    Bang: Than we used... to be...
    Monstars: ...wait...
    (cue The Monstars shoving Swackhammer in a rocket and sending him away)
  • Conspicuous Trenchcoat: The Nerdstars use one to infiltrate basketball games looking for talent. For once, someone notices how strange this disguise is.
  • Corrupt Corporate Executive: Swackhammer again. He considers kidnapping people from another planet to be a legit business venture.
  • Cult Soundtrack: It went platinum six times, had hits by R. Kelly and Seal, and a Monstars theme by a team of rappers, who are very popular to make mashups with.
  • Curb-Stomp Battle: The Monstars dominate the first half of the game, with the scoreboard itself hanging a lampshade on it ("Kinda one-sided, isn't it?"), and absolutely decimate the Tunes in the third quarter of the game. After Jordan calls for a time out, we see the various characters in severely bad shape, with Tweety resting in an Acme iron lung!
  • Custom Uniform of Sexy: Lola Bunny is the only girl on the Tune Squad team, and is the only one wearing a shortened top that bares her midriff. Lola has an Impossible Hourglass Figure, and this variant uniform exploits that. Her uniform in Space Jam: A New Legacy averts this trope by having her tank top extend below her waistline just like all the boys' uniforms do.
  • Deadpan Door Shut: Bugs and Daffy are sent to Michael's house to retrieve his basketball gear without being detected. Daffy opens a closet door to the find the pet dog holding the shorts in his mouth while glaring at him. He quickly shuts the door while cynically proclaiming that he's found the shorts.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Jordan:
    Stan: So, what is it (the car)? Too conspicuous?
    Jordan: [deadpan voice] Yes.
  • Defeat Means Friendship: The Nerdlucks/Monstars do this at the end after they lose the game. When the Monstars turn back into the Nerdlucks, they ask Bugs if they can stay with the Looney Tunes and try to prove to him they can be just as looney.
  • Determinator: Stan is ordered by his boss to keep Jordan happy and he does so, even if it means helping him defeat the Monstars and letting him quit baseball, which quite possibly meant losing his own job.
  • Deus ex machina: Bill Murray's last minute appearance. Within universe, the toons stop 40-year-old cartoons due to an important meeting.
  • Dirty Coward: At one point in the first game, all the Monstars are running towards Daffy who holds the ball. He despertely looks for someone to pass the ball to, only to realize there's no one free on the field. Does he try to defend himself from the Monstars? No! He throws the ball over to Granny who isn't even out on the field and she is dogpiled by the Monstars. Lola gives him a disapproving look for this.
  • Disqualification-Induced Victory: Attempted by the bad guys. Marvin the Martian warns Michael Jordan that, without a fifth player on the court, they're disqualified. Seeing as the Monstars had just pulverized every last Loony Tune at that point and left only Jordan, Bugs, Lola and Daffy still standing, being disqualified meant everyone gets to be slaves of an intergalactic amusement park. Thankfully, Bill Murray shows up to save the day.
  • Distracted by the Sexy: This happens to Bugs Bunny in Lola Bunny's introductory appearance when she enters the gym to try out for the team.
  • The Ditz: Blanko. Even saying that he's not the sharpest tool in the shed is a bit too generous.
    Pound: Okay, bunny. Gather up your toon pals. We're taking you for a ride!
    Blanko: Yeah, totally, alright. So, like, where are we going? [Pound Dope Slaps him] Are We There Yet?
  • Diving Save: Bugs Bunny does this for Lola when she is about to get literally crushed by the Monstars
  • Doctor Whomage: The Nerdlucks watch a basketball game disguised in a coat, hat and oversized scarf as a nod to Tom Baker portraying the Fourth Doctor.
  • Does This Remind You of Anything?: When everyone starts drinking Michael’s "Secret Stuff", Daffy initially disapproves, saying it goes against everything he learned in Health Class.
  • The Dog Bites Back: The Nerdlucks/Monstars' comeuppance on their Bad Boss. When Jordan points out that they don't have to take his abuse, they suddenly realize that they are much bigger and stronger than him and rocket him to the moon.
    Jordan: Why're you taking it from this guy?
    Bupkis: Because he's bigger.
    Pound: He's bigger?!
    Bang: Than we used... to be...
    Monstars: ...wait...
    Swackhammer: What are you doing?!
  • Don't Touch It, You Idiot!: {Inverted|Trope}}. Near the end of the film, Michael Jordan comes in with a basketball and asks his fellow top athletes to touch it, but they initially refuse to, thinking it's some sort of trap.
  • Down to the Last Play: The Tune Squad is in a pinch — 10 seconds to go in the final quarter, down by two (meaning they would need to make a three-pointer to avoid tying) and they're a man down. Michael Jordan has just learned that, in Looney Tune Land, he can use the cartoony physics to his advantage, but without the extra man, they forfeit and Swackhammer gets him and the Tunes. Bill Murray (as in, the actor, not a character played by Murray; it's that kind of movie) arrives just in time and Jordan's able to pull off a half-court slam dunk to win the game.
  • Dramatic Thunder: While the Looney Tunes are on the practice court, the day is bright and sunny. Once they cede the court to the Nerdlucks, however, storm clouds roll in and thunder is heard. Under an overcast sky, the five Nerdlucks go One-Winged Angel, and transform into the five hulking Monstars. And there's suddenly an oversize full moon overhead, too.
  • Dressed to Heal: Daffy Duck wears a lab coat, gloves and head band while examining Michael Jordan. They're all about two sizes too big.
  • Dude, Not Funny!: When Stan is found snooping by the Monstars and is zapped to within an inch of his life, Daffy sneers that he looks like he ran into a bug zapper. Wile E. Coyote shoves him and gives a disapproving glare.
  • Dull Surprise:
    • Jordan isn't very surprised to find himself suddenly confronted by a number of fictional animated characters, even rolling his eyes at them.
    • Not even Jordan's kids are all that taken aback when they meet Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck breaking and entering their house, though they at least have the excuse that they're young kids who would be more accepting of this sort of thing. Plus seeing them might explain why they disappeared from the TV earlier in the film.

    E to L 
  • Ears as Hair: Lola ties her ears back in a ponytail (qualifies as the page image).
  • Elongating Arm Gag: Fully embracing Toon Physics, Michael Jordan stretches his arm to make the winning slam dunk.
  • Enemy Mine: Either this or they all are Animated Actors. The heroes and foes seemed to be on fairly good terms in the film when outside the classic shorts, and probably it was because all of their future careers were on the line, so they had no choice but to cooperate.
  • Epic Fail: Jordan's ineptitude at baseball is exaggerated to drive home the fact that it's not his sport.
  • "Eureka!" Moment:
    • The Toons discuss what they should challenge the Nerdlucks in to guarantee a victory for themselves. They have this exchange when analyzing their opponents.
    Bugs: (pulls down chart of Nerdlucks) Now, uh, what are we looking at here? We've got a small race of invading aliens.
    Daffy: (pulls in arms and legs to imitae Nerdlucks) Small arms. Short legs.
    Elmer: Not very fast...
    Sylvester: Tiny little guys!
    Porky: A ke- akea- can't jump high...
    Everyone: Uh huh!
    (scene change to meeting the Nerdlucks again)
    Bugs: We challenge you to a basketball game!
    • After the movie's climatic basketball game, Michael asks the Monstars why they take crap from their boss. They reply that it's because he's bigger than they used to be. They all quickly realize the key phrase there is used to be.
  • Even Evil Has Standards: When Bill Murray tells Daffy that he's only there because he's a friend of the producer, Pound (The orange Monstar) can be seen in the background, and shakes his head in disgust when Murray mentions this.
  • Everyone Has Standards: Pepe Lepew is a skunk with a comically horrible stench, but even he was disgusted by the stench given off by Stan when he was getting deflated to the point he stuck a clothespin on his nose.
  • Eviler than Thou: Mr. Swackhammer and the Monstars threaten to enslave all the Looney Tunes, including the villainous ones like Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam.
  • Evil Is Bigger:
    • The Monstars are gigantic compared to Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes.
    • Mr. Swackhammer is Large and in Charge from the Nerdlucks' perspective.
  • Evil Wears Black: The transition from Nerdlucks to Monstars leads to them getting black uniforms and sneakers out of nowhere. (which remain when the transformation is reversed...)
  • Evil Plan: The game takes place (and Jordan is roped into it) because Mr. Swackhammer wants new attractions for his theme park, even if it means enslaving the Looney Tunes.
  • Evil Sounds Deep: The Nerdlucks are appropriately squeaky, and then the Monstars speak in deep, threatening voices. Mr. Swackhammer also has Danny DeVito using his voice in this way.
  • Excuse Plot: The film's bizarre plot is really a set up for the Looney Tunes antics, Jordan's presence, and the climatic basketball game with both.
  • Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: What leads to the above The Dog Bites Back moment. The Monstars do the explaining, Swackhammer does the Oh, Crap!.
  • Fair-Play Villain: The Nerdlucks, who agree to use the basketball game to give the toons a chance to defend themselves. Though they're brutal during the game, they give up their new powers with little fuss in the end, because that was the deal.
    Blanko: Fair is fair.
  • Fat Flex: Bugs Bunny puffs himself up while introducing himself to Canon Foreigner Lola Bunny. He can't sustain this pose, and soon returns to his potato-sack body shape. Lola politely giggles at this faux machismo.
  • Female Gaze: When Bugs is Hulking Out after taking "Michael's special stuff" (actually just water), Lola utters a soft "Wow!" looking at him. Even Daffy is impressed, complimenting Bugs' deltoids.
  • Fireball Eyeballs: The first time Bugs calls her "doll", Lola becomes enraged enough to develop flaming eyes.
  • Fish out of Water: Jordan stays with the Looney Tunes characters in their universe to help them defeat the Monstars, and then he leaves for home when done.
  • Flag Drop: The movie parodies the Patton scene, with Bugs Bunny in a military uniform when he addresses his fellow toons.
  • Flat Character: Despite this being the origin place of Lola Bunny, she really has no definitive personality apart from being a sexy bombshell rabbit for the other guys (specially Bugs) to ogle at.
  • Flat Scare: Happens to Porky after the Nerdlucks transform into the Monstars.
    Blanko: Hey, little pig... boo.
    Porky Pig: AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! [Beat] I w-w-w-wet myself.
  • Following in Relative's Footsteps: Young Michael Jordan dreams of playing basketball on a college championship team in North Carolina and then in the NBA, but also tells his dad that afterward, he wants to play baseball like Mr. Jordan did. His father approves of both dreams.
  • Force and Finesse: The Monstars and the Toon Squad, respectively. The Monstars are Unskilled, but Strong, brute-forcing their way through the game; the Toon Squad, on the other hand, are Weak, but Skilled, countering with various goofy antics. They also have Michael Jordan and his Badass Normal skills.
  • Forceful Kiss: At the end of the Ultimate Game, Michael Jordan gives advice to Bugs Bunny: "Stay out of trouble." Bugs responds, "You know I will." At this bald lie, Lola giggles, so Bugs seizes her upper arms, and conducts a fervent Smooch of Victory with her. Lola is initially surprised by this kiss, but quickly warms to it.
  • The Foreign Subtitle: In Brazil and Latin America, the movie is called "Space Jam - The Game of the Century (the subtitle is translated as such from O Jogo do Século" in the former and El Juego del Siglo in the latter).
  • Foreshadowing: When the Monstars demonstrate their new (stolen) skills, they force Michael into a ball shape and use him like one, with Michael showing no problem beyond some pain. This reveals that Toon Physics can also apply to humans while in the Toonverse, which lets Stan survive being crushed by the Monstars and allows Michael to score his half-court dunk at the end of the game.
  • Fortune Teller: The five basketball players whose skill is stolen by the alien bugs try a number of things to find out what happened, including consulting one of these. She has a stunningly accurate vision of Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny playing basketball against the aliens, but the players don't believe her.
  • Four-Fingered Hands:
    • The Looney Tunes crew have four fingers as usual.
    • The Nerdlucks only have three digits per hand in their normal form; however, as the Monstars, they have five-fingered hands.
  • Freeze-Frame Bonus:
    • Outside the meeting where the Nerdlucks reveal their plans, the marquee reads "Friday: ALIENS HAVE TAKEN OVER US! Saturday: Tony Bennett".
    • The graph with the Nerdluck silhouettes have underneath each one a Binomium ridiculus scientific name (it's Looney Tunes, after all).
  • From Nobody to Nightmare: After stealing the NBA players' ability, the Nerdlucks transform from their original puny selves into the gigantic, uber-athletic Monstars.
  • Furry Female Mane: Lola Bunny has a larger, blonde tuft of hair on her head, but has her ears tied up in a ponytail as a substitute for long hair. Bugs Bunny only has smaller tufts.
  • Gang of Bullies: The Monstars act like this trope with their newfound powers, repeatedly intimidating, belittling and hurting Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes.
  • Gigantic Moon: The first time that the five Nerdlucks transform into the Monstars, the moon overhead is so large and bright that it occupies almost as much of the screen as any one Monstar.
  • Glass Cannon: Bill Murray comes in as a Big Damn Heroes when the team needed a fifth player. He proves to have Awesomeness by Analysis in identifying a Monstar player weakness and quick enough to psych out another when they recovered the ball in the last few seconds. But he is really exhausted afterward and talks about needing to ice his knees. This is only after ten seconds of play time.
  • The Glomp: Michael Jordan has refreshed his basketball skills in Schlesinger's Gym when the clownish Stan Podolak appears, declaring, "Michael! You're all right!" In fairness, the last time Stan had seen Jordan, Michael had disappeared down a golf hole, and been missing for half a day. Stan waddles up to Michael and gives him such a hug that Michael is momentarily taken off his feet. "Don't hug me, Stan", he states flatly. Upon learning that Michael is helping the Looney Tunes win a basketball game, Stan becomes the Team Wannabe.
  • Good Luck Charm: After agreeing to play for the Tune Squad, Michael tells them they need to bring his gear from home, including his North Carolina shorts — "They're lucky. I wore them under my Bulls uniform every game". (After they react with disgust, he assures the toons that he also washed them every time.) The shorts prove to be the hardest item to acquire, as they need the help of Michael's children to get them away from his Angry Guard Dog.)
  • Graceful Loser: After losing the Ultimate Game in the final seconds, and dispatching their Bad Boss Swackhammer, the Monstars are reminded of the amended stakes: that they must forfeit the talents that they took from some NBA superstars. Pound glumly asks, "Do we have to?" at which Michael Jordan replies, "It's part of the deal. Touch the ball." Rather than thug their way out of it, all five Monstars touch the ball, forfeiting their powers, which reduces them to their diminutive Nerdluck forms.
    Bupkus: I feel so ... insignificant.
  • G-Rated Drug: Bugs' Secret Stuff, which is really water, but the toons treat it as steroids. Daffy notes this is wrong. Using the basketball players' talent is made to look like this on the aliens' side.
  • Grievous Harm with a Body: One of the Monstars uses Tweety like a golf ball and uses Foghorn Leghorn as a club.
  • Growing Muscles Sequence:
    • The Nerdlucks transforming into the Monstars makes all of them bigger and muscular.
    • Bugs Bunny later fakes one to convince his teammates that Jordan's Secret Stuff works.
  • Handshake of Doom: During a timeout, Jordan raises the stakes with Swackhammer: a win by the Tune Squad will require the Monstars to not only leave the Looney Tunes alone but also return their stolen talents, while a win by the Monstars would make Jordan an attraction on Moron Mountain for the rest of his life. Jordan and Swackhammer seal the deal with a handshake. This is then followed by the the Monstars severely injuring most of the Tune Squad, forcing Jordan to call another timeout so they can recover.
  • Head-Turning Beauty: Lola Bunny enters Schlesinger's Gym to a Sexophone riff, and all the Looney Tunes to start Eating the Eye Candy. Her Impossible Hourglass Figure has Bugs Bunny especially smitten, to the point of making a fool of himself. Even Foghorn Leghorn rubs his eyes in disbelief as Lola sashays toward the exit.
  • Heel–Face Turn: The Nerdlucks change sides after they use their Monstar forms to beat the stuffing out of their abusive boss. Afterwards, they join the Toons and return the talent they stole.
  • Helium Speech: Used briefly when the Monstars use Jordan as a ball and he screams in a high-pitched voice as they play.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: When Lola is about to be crushed by Pound, Bugs Bunny pushes her out of harm's way. This results in Bugs being Squashed Flat instead.
  • Hey, That's My Line!: Porky says so when Bugs says "That's all, Folks".
  • Hey, You!: Bill Murray isn't properly introduced to Lola, so he just calls her Girl Bunny.
  • Hoist by His Own Petard: The fact that Swackhammer is bigger than the Nerdlucks is apparently all that keeps them in line. When he turns them into the Monstars, he's no longer bigger than them, and when the Nerdlucks realise that...
  • Hold Up Your Score: The Ensemble Cast of the Looney Tunes does this after watching Michael Jordan and his seat plunge downwards from the sky to the ground. Pepé Le Pew's rating is a heart, while Foghorn Leghorn's rating is "10, ah say 10, boy!".
  • Home Field Advantage: Subverted. The Looney Tunes do have the game in their world, and use all of their wacky and dangerous antics to help them out, but are not limited to being able to use it in their world. Likewise, the Monstars are able to use all of their antics.
  • Hotter and Sexier: Historically, the introduction of Lola Bunny in this movie had this purpose in the Looney Tunes franchise.
  • Human-Focused Adaptation: The movie puts its focus on bringing Michael Jordan into the Looney Tunes' world to save them from aliens by playing basketball. The first part of the movie plays like a Biopic of Jordan before the Looney Tunes show up.
  • Human Knot: Lola Bunny leaves Bugs Bunny in a ridiculous knot when Bugs makes the mistake of pressing Lola's Berserk Button by calling her "doll."
  • Human Ladder: During the montage of the Tune Squad taking advantage of the Monstars and gaining the lead in the game, Porky Pig, Sylvester and Foghorn Leghorn form one of these to make a slam dunk.
  • Iconic Sequel Character: Lola Bunny was introduced to the Looney Tunes franchise via this film, in 1996. Despite being a controversial character at first, she continued to appear as a major character (usually Bugs' love interest) in future Looney Tunes productions.
  • I Control My Minions Through...: Swackhammer uses Fear to back up Authority. One Fear goes away, Karma is delivered to him.
  • Image Song: The soundtrack has two, "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)", and "Buggin'", a Boastful Rap sung by Bugs himself.
  • Immune to Slapstick: Averted for most of the cast. Not only do the Looney Tunes Butt Monkeys take their usual lumps, but even the usually untouchable Karmic Tricksters such as Bugs and Tweety and some of the live action cast members find themselves taking a comical beating from the Monstars. Out of all of them, Lola is the only character who doesn't involved much in the Toon Physics, to the point the one instance she is almost hurt by a Monstar is Played for Drama.
  • Impact Silhouette: Done to the toons... and Stan, given everyone has cartoon physics in Tune land.
  • Improbable Sports Skills: The Ultimate Game of basketbal. Elmer Fudd can dunk, lardbucket Stan Podolak can sink a shot while buried under five Monstars, and Michael Jordan can reach the rim from the half-court line. Since the game is being played in the cartoon universe, the Laws of Physics and the Rules of Basketball are reduced to suggestions.
  • Inflating Body Gag: When Stan is Squashed Flat by the Monstars, some toon nurses use an air pump to blow him up into a large balloon, then deflate him back to normal.
  • Ink-Suit Actor: Played with: the Monstars look like monstrous versions of the NBA players whose talents they stole.
  • In One Ear, Out The Other: Doctor Daffy examines Michael Jordan's ear and is able to see Bugs through the other ear. Bugs even yodels to test the echo.
  • Inspirational Insult: Occurs twice with Lola Bunny. During the tryouts at Schlesinger's Gym, Bugs Bunny puts the move on Lola, asking, "You wanna play a little one-on-one, doll?" Lola's Fireball Eyeballs signal that she severely dislikes being regarded as a pretty face and nothing more. She quickly leaves Bugs in a ridiculous knot at the foul line, and throws down an impressive jam. Later, during the Ultimate Game, the Monstar Pound challenges Lola, "Try to get by me, doll." After disarranging Pound's face, Lola throws down another strong jam. Notable in that these are the only times that Lola Bunny is seen scoring points.
  • Instantly Defeathered Bird: During the basketball game, Foghorn Leghorn is incinerated by Monstar Bang's fire breath, leaving him as a pile of ashes with eyes and a beak that speaks the Non Sequitur, *Thud* "Did you order original recipe, or extra crispy?" Later, Foghorn is seen on the team bench as a plucked and cooked chicken on a platter, receiving an IV drip.
  • Intangible Theft: The Nerdlucks steal the talent of basketball superstars Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Muggsy Bogues, and Shawn Bradley.
  • I Resemble That Remark!: Said by Foghorn Leghorn (the Trope Namer) when the Monstars visit the Toons' gym to meet and taunt Jordan by calling him a chicken.
  • Ironic Echo: Watch the ending to the basketball game while listening to "I Believe I Can Fly".
  • Irony: The Monstars' primary reason for stealing the basketball talent was to be tall enough to face off against the Toons. However, one of the players they took that talent from was Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player in the NBA.
  • I've Heard of That — What Is It?: Bugs Bunny, in an effort to defend himself and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang from becoming slaves to the Nerdlucks, challenges them to a basketball game. They eagerly accept the challenge… right before asking "What is basketball?".
  • Juxtaposed Halves Shot: A variation is used in one of the film's posters with Michael Jordan beside Bugs Bunny and half of their mugs at the left and right side of the poster rather than the usual "split in the middle" version.
  • Kick the Dog: When Tweety stands up for Jordan, the Monstars swat him down. Jordan understandably does not take it well.
  • Kidnapped by the Call: Michael Jordan is kidnapped by Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes because they need his help to defeat the Nerdlucks now the huge Monstars in a game of Basketball so that the Looney Tunes don't end up as slave star attractions on the amusement park on the planet Moron Mountain.
  • Knight of Cerebus: Even before the Nerdlucks become the Monstars, the threat they pose is urgent enough that Bugs, who normally works alone, is forced to rally up the rest of the Looney Tunes cast to work against this threat. After they become the Monstars, the characters have the deck completely stacked against them and are forced to seek out the aid of Michael Jordan to turn the tide.
  • Lampshade Hanging:
    • It's a blatantly commercial movie that ropes WB's stable of beloved cartoon characters into shilling for basketball... but they know this and want you to know that they know. How can you tell? Observe:
      Jordan: You guys are nuts.
      Porky Pig: Ah bu- bu- bu- correction, we're Looney Tunes.
      Daffy Duck: And as such, property of Warner Brothers, Inc.!
      [Daffy lifts up his WB-stamped butt and kisses it]
      Daffy Duck: Mmmmwah!
    • And this:
      Bugs: Speaking of toys, you know all those mugs and t-shirts lunchboxes with our pictures on em?
      Daffy: Yeah.
      Bugs: You, uh, ever seen any money from all that stuff?
      Daffy: [scoff] Not a cent.
      Bugs: Hm, me neither.
      Daffy: [sigh] It's a crying shame. We've got to get a new agent. We're getting screwed! (This line is ironically edited by splicing out the "we're getting screwed" part when Cartoon Network airs thisnote ).
    • The film also lampshades the absurdity of its own premise by having a fortune teller the afflicted NBA players go to for guidance see a completely accurate summary of the plot...which causes them to scoff in disbelief and leave:
      Fortune Teller: I see aliens. Little aliens from outer space. They forced their way into your bodies. They need your talent in order to win a basketball game against...Bugs Bunny. I also see Michael Jordan being sucked down a golf hole by furry creatures...
      Patrick Ewing: That's it, we're outta here.
  • Leaning on the Fourth Wall: When Bill Murray shows up for the climax as a borderline Deus ex machina, Daffy asks him how he got there and Murray replies, "The producer's a friend of mine." Either Daffy is questioning how Murray got into the Looney Tunes world, and the answer is that Murray knows the producer of Looney Tunes, or they're raising the very valid question of what Bill Murray is doing in a Looney Tunes/NBA crossover movie in the first place, in which case the producer in question would be the film's producer, Ivan Reitman - who is indeed a friend of Murray's. Judging from the disgusted reactions from Daffy (and the leader of the Monstars), they took the latter interpretation.
  • Let's Get Dangerous!: After Swackhammer accepts the new terms to the deal with Michael, he gives his new orders to the Monstars.
    Swackhammer: Crush 'em.
  • Licensed Pinball Table: Released by Sega Pinball in 1996. Click here for tropes.
  • Liquid Assets: Sports ability can be siphoned out of someone and placed into a basketball for someone else to use.
  • Literal Ass-Kissing: Daffy literally kisses his own ass, which is branded with a WB shield, out of affection.
  • Lock-and-Load Montage: When the toons are preparing for the game they gear up in this fashion.
  • The Loins Sleep Tonight: During the "Basketball Jones" scene, a shrink asks Patrick Ewing if he is having this problem. He angrily responds with a "No!"
  • Long Song, Short Scene: The Monstars' Anthem. Despite featuring some amazing rhymes from LL Cool J, Method Man, and more, only the chorus is used.
  • Lost Him in a Card Game: Michael Jordan wagers himself on the basketball game, in exchange for Swackhammer returning the basketball players' talents. Fortunately, he wins the game and doesn't lose himself.
  • Low Clearance: During the hospital scene when the doctor and the four NBA players walk through the hallway. The tall players Larry Johnson, Shawn Bradley, and Patrick Ewing smack their heads on top of the door frame and topple over while the doctor and Muggsy Bogues walk through just fine.

    M to R 
  • Madness Mantra: Elmer is lying on the floor having a breakdown in a straight jacket mumbling "The Monstars" over and over again.
  • Magic Countdown: The final ten seconds of the Ultimate Game take more than ten seconds, closer to forty. The Monstars have possession, and begin an inbound pass. Joke Character Daffy Duck causes Pound to lose his grip on the ball, which ends up in Team Wannabe Bill Murray's hands. Three dribbles and five passes later, Jordan gets the ball just short of the half-court circle. Pound tries to tackle him, but Jordan goes high on him, launching himself at the unguarded hoop with five seconds left on the clock. All that passing and dribbling take just five seconds of game time, while 35 seconds of reel time elapse. Jordan goes for the longest dunk in history in slow motion which burns up the last five seconds. Justified, in that the game is played in Toon Town, where game clocks are as loopy and nonsensical as any of the characters.
  • Magic Feather: Michael's "secret stuff" that Bugs offers to the Looney Tunes to help them play better (it's actualy tap water). It gives them such confidence, that in no time, the Monstars are winning by merely two points.
  • Male Gaze: After beating Bugs at a game between the two of them, Lola leaves the scene in an exaggerated swaying motion with her hips, leaving all the males in the room flabbergasted. And Bugs...he's barely able to stand.
  • Matchlight Danger Revelation: Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are digging their way to Michael Jordan's home to get his lucky shorts. Daffy decides to take a shortcut and surfaces inside a doghouse. He lights a match and finds himself facing Michael's bulldog, then lets out a feeble "Mother".
  • Medium Blending: The live action Jordan interacting with toons in their world, and the toons coming to his world.
  • Merchandise-Driven: As mentioned above, the concept for the film was inspired by a popular series of Nike ads featuring Jordan and the Looney Tunes characters. Warner Bros. also wanted to reinvigorate the Looney Tunes, which had lacked any new material for quite some time and were surviving purely on this trope (given the reaction of the typical Looney Tunes fan, this didn't work out so well). Daffy lampshades this by noting that they are getting screwed, as they haven't been paid for any merchandise. Stan lampshades Jordan's shilling by incorporating every product he has ever endorsed into a single sentence while asking him to wake up and get ready for practice.
  • A Minor Kidroduction: The Teaser takes place during Jordan's childhood, then for the main titles shifts to Stock Footage of his basketball career.
  • Mood Whiplash: The beginning of the movie has a very somber scene where a young Michael Jordan is speaking with his father, then he takes a shot at a basketball hoop, which kicks off the movie. This would be great....if it was a documentary about his life. Unfortunately, it segues into the credits, featuring highlights of his career to an upbeat rap. Then there's the press conference with Jordan announcing his retirement, back to being overtly serious. In fact, most of the parts of the movie that involve the real world in a non comedic context are almost devoid of levity, which is rather jarring given the overall premise is a comedy. The players going through psychological tests ("I'm never gonna go out with Madonna again.") and visiting a psychic (see Cassandra Truth) are probably the only real world scenes which try to be funny.
  • Mr. Fanservice: Bugs himself, after downing some "Secret Stuff". Makes for a nice change of pace considering his usual gag is cross-dressing.
  • Ms. Fanservice: Lola Bunny has an Impossible Hourglass Figure, and wears a midriff-exposing crop-top and shorts outfit. Much of Lola's time in Schlesinger's Gym is accompanied by the Sexophone, where all the male toons demonstrate Male Gaze, while Bugs Bunny demonstrates Love Makes You Dumb. Lampshaded by Tweety.
    Tweety: Oooh! She hot! (touches his rear which makes a sizzling sound)
  • Mythology Gag:
    • There aren't very many direct references to the cartoon plots, but there are a few. For example, when Jordan falls into Looney Tunes land, Daffy shows up dressed as a doctor and gives him a very madcap checkup. This is a reference to The Daffy Doc, which at the time went over the heads of many as that and many other Clampett Era cartoons were rarely rerun when the movie was released.
    • Another example is from the Tune Squad introduction scene. When the announcer introduces Daffy Duck, Daffy gleefully shouts thank you to the patrons. But Daffy gets no response. This is a reference to Show Biz Bugs.
    • After Foghorn Leghorn geists burnt to a crisp by Bang, he makes a reference to KFC. This is likely a nod to the time that he was a spokesperson for said restaurant.
      Foghorn: Did you order original recipe, or extra crispy?
  • Naked People Are Funny: So is a Monstar who is pantsed mid-game.
  • Nap-Inducing Speak: Michael Jordan delivers a never-say-die speech to the morose Looney Tunes at halftime of the Ultimate Game. The result puts every 'toon to sleep except Bugs Bunny, who remarks, "Great speech, Doc. You had them riveted."
  • Never Work with Children or Animals: An In-Universe example occurs when Daffy, after escaping Michael Jordan's dog with the help of his children, quips "This is the last time I'm working with dogs or children!"
  • Newscaster Cameo: NBC sportscaster Ahmad Rashadnote  briefly cameos to deliver a report on the status of the players after their talent has been stolen.
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The Nerdlucks might not have thought to do the whole talent-sucking thing if the Looney Tunes hadn't shown them a video that said 'the best players in the world' gathered in one place. Then again, who would have thought they could steal talent?
  • Nightmare Face: At one point, Taz leers at the camera with bloodshot eyes and snot dripping from his nose.
  • No Fourth Wall:
    • Bill Murray tells Daffy that the whole reason he's in Looney Land is because he was good friends with the producer of the movie. Pound, who's walking past, shakes his head in disgust and Daffy responds with a scoff and "Uh-huh. Well, that's how it goes."
    • When the above happens, Swackhammer mistakes him for Dan Aykroyd and openly acknowledges they're in a movie.
    • The Tunes examine the Nerdlucks' weakpoints by analyzing a large design chart... the very same line-up used to animate the new characters in the film.
  • No Intelligent Life Here: Inverted. After meeting the Nerdlucks, Bugs Bunny comments that, "You know, maybe there is no intelligent life out there in the universe after all."
  • Non-Action Big Bad: Mr. Swackhammer. He doesn't actually do anything himself. This comes back to bite him when the Monstars realize this.
  • Non-Actor Vehicle: While charismatic enough to at least hold his own against the Warner Bros. animation pantheon, Michael Jordan still gives exactly the kind of performance one might expect from a professional athlete reading lines in front of a green screen.
  • Non-Indicative Name: The movie doesn't take place in outer space. Instead, it has aliens coming to Earth.
  • Non Sequitur: When the Looney Tunes are planning on their course of action against the Nerdlucks, Sylvester apparently comes up with an idea... to eat Tweety.
  • Non Sequitur, *Thud*:
    • Daffy after getting clobbered. "But Mommy, I don't want to go to school today. I want to stay home and bake cookies with you."
    • "Twinkle, twinkle, little star!" was uttered by Daffy after a run-in with Jordan's dog.
  • Noodle Incident: Charles Barkley praying in church, "I'll never go out with Madonna again."
  • The Nose Knows: The Monstars are able to locate and discover Stan spying on them simply by using an exceptional sense of smell.
  • Not Afraid of You Anymore: At the end of the movie, the Monstars are being thoroughly berated by their boss, Mr. Swackhammer, for having lost the big basketball game that would've given him permanent control over the Looney Tunes. When Michael Jordan asks the Monstars why they put up with this kind of abuse, the Monstars reply: "He's bigger..." *there is a pregnant pause, then the Monstars grin wickedly as they realize the truth of their situation* "...bigger than we used to be." They then stuff Mr. Swackhammer into a rocket and launch it, sending him back to Moron Mountain alone.
  • Not Helping Your Case: Stan insists that he helps Michael and the Looney Tunes in their game against the Monstars. Michael is understandably hesitant in letting him do so since Stan's not exactly physically fit for basketball. He lamely argues that while he may not be very tall, he's also slow.
  • Not-So-Harmless Villain: The Nerdlucks might be small and a little bumbling, but they are not villains to be brushed off as harmless. Their powerful ray guns compensate for their small size rather well, and Bugs' trickery, which usually works rather well on other foes, does not fool them in the slightest. And this is all before they, knowing full well that they’ll never win at basketball with their small size, take the talents of five NBA legends and become the hulking Monstars.
  • Now You Tell Me: When Michael sees Stan get flattened and inflated, he asks how he did that. Bugs replies it's because they're currently in a cartoon world, and thus Toon Physics apply. Michael is annoyed at this since that info could've been helpful to him if he had known that earlier, but instead was told that with literally just ten seconds left on the clock.
  • Numerical Theme Naming: Zigzagged. Of the five Nerdlucks, three of their names relate to zero. "Bupkus" is the Yiddish word for "nothing", "Nawt" is a homophone for "naught", and Blanko's name is just the word "blank" with an "o" at the end. In their Monstar forms, they all (including Pound and Bang, who have the Odd Names Out) have the number zero on their uniforms.
  • Odd Name Out: Both Pound and Bang are exempt from the other Nerdlucks' Numerical Theme Naming. Instead, their names can be used as synonyms for "hit".
  • O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Bugs was almost always a loner in the original theatrical cartoons and gathering up the other Looney Tunes to help him out is completely out of character for him, but justified in story because the Nerdlucks are just that much of a threat.
  • Oh, Crap!:
    • Yosemite Sam aims his guns at Pound while declaring that they're not going to be taken anywhere. Pound wasn't impressed and simply blasts Sam with his laser gun, causing all the Tunes in the assembly hall to surrender.
    • The Looney Tunes after the Nerdlucks turn into The Monstars.
    • Also when they learn that the Monstars have stolen the talents from the NBA players. (Stan himself receives a beautiful one when the Monstars catch him spying on them.)
    • When Daffy Duck opens the door, sees Michael Jordan's dog Charles growling, then responds "I found...the shorts".
    • Bupkus gets this when he realizes that Wile E. Coyote has booby-trapped the backboard with explosives.
    • Wile E. Coyote himself when he is curb-stomped by the Monstars.
    • Lola when she's almost crushed by Pound and Bugs is squashed flat by Pound's belly-flop meant for her.
    • Stan when he's going to be crushed by the Monstars.
    • A particularly satisfying one comes courtesy of Swackhammer after the game, when the Monstars realize that since they're bigger than him, they don't have to put up with his crap anymore.
  • Old-Timey Cinema Countdown: Since the Nerdlucks have no idea what basketball is, the Looney Tunes show them a newsreel from The '40s that shows how the game is played (badly) in a public gymnasium. This newsreel begins with the cinematic countdown (3, 2, blank), during which Barnyard Dog throws his box of popcorn at a standing Foghorn Leghorn. Dog grouses, "Down in front!" as the popcorn somehow levels the rooster on impact.
  • One Season Athlete: Bill Murray comes on in relief of Wayne Knight's character in the Tune Squad-Monstars game. After helping the team win, Murray announces his retirement.
  • One-Winged Angel: The weak and tiny Nerdlucks use the talent of basketball players to transform into the powerful and huge Monstars.
  • Opposing Sports Team: The Monstars can only win by stealing the power and talent of actual professional basketball players. Even having Michael Jordan as part of the good guys' squad was just barely an equalizer.
  • Out Sick: When most of the Tune Squad gets literally crushed by the Monstars, they field Stan Podolack, who actually scores despite not being athletic and being Squashed Flat. Bill Murray then arrives and fills in the fifth player's slot.
  • Painful Transformation: The Nerdlucks' transformation into the Monstars is clearly not pleasant for them, as we see and hear the cracking of Pound and Bang's bones. Fortunately, Blanko seems to get a less painful transformation, and we never see what happens with Nawt and Bupkis.
  • Pain to the Ass: During the Tune Squad's retaliation against the Monstars, Daffy Duck paints the ass of one of their members red, getting the attention of Toro the Bull, who is in the audience. He predictably skewers said Monstar in the behind.
  • Pantsless Males, Fully-Dressed Females: As in the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, Bugs Bunny is usually clothed in nothing but his fur coat and White Gloves; this contrasts the newly-introduced Lola Bunny, who is never seen wearing anything less than a full outfit (except for shoes).
  • Pants-Pulling Prank: The movie shows Sylvester the cat use a fishing rod to completely yank away orange Monstar Pound's athletic shorts during the second half of the Ultimate Game. Pound is apparently Going Commando, as he's shown denuded from the waist down, and resorts to sitting on the court with his jersey pulled down in embarrassment. "Nice butt!", Lola Bunny comments.
  • Parental Bonus:
    • During a montage of the basketball players seeking treatment for their suddenly poor performance on the court, the therapist asks Patrick Ewing if his "performance" has suffered in "any... other... areas?", with Ewing giving him an incredulous look and yelling, "NO!"
    • During the basketball game, Yosemite Sam and Elmer Fudd stop one of the Monstars while dressed as the two hitmen Jules and Vincent from Pulp Fiction. The kids won't get the reference but their parents might.
  • Pint-Sized Powerhouse: At one point in the game, Tweety goes all kung fu on the Monstars when they tried to gang up on him.
  • Placebo Effect: Bugs has the Tune Squad try out Jordan's "Secret Stuff" making then think, it'll give them an edge during the remainder of the game, when it's really just water - something which Jordan hides as first but later admits.
  • Platonic Kissing: Bugs Bunny plants a dandy smooch on the newly-arrived Michael Jordan to prove that Bugs is "real."
    Jordan: You're a cartoon, you're not real.
    Bunny: Not real, eh? If I weren't real, could I do this? [power smooch]
  • Power Parasite: How the Nerdlucks become the Monstars: by stealing the talent of famous basketball players.
  • Prayer Is a Last Resort: Charles Barkley in church.
    Barkley: I promise I'll never swear again... I'll never get another technical... I'll never trash talk...
  • Product Placement: Satirized when Stan tells Jordan to prepare for the day with a Long List of products that Michael was sponsoring at the time.
    Stan: Come on, Michael, it's game time! Put your Hanes on, lace up your Nikes, grab some Wheaties and your Gatorade, and we'll pick up a Big Mac, on the way to the Ball Park [Franks]!
  • Punch-Clock Villain: The Nerdlucks, aka the Monstars. They only compete against the Looney Tunes because Swackhammer threatened them and wanted them in his theme park by any means possible. When they realize that they're physically bigger than him by the end of the film, they toss him back to Moron Mountain and ask the Looney Tunes characters if they can stay with them.
  • Punched Across the Room: Bupkus does this to referee Marvin the Martian near the end of the game.
  • Quirky Miniboss Squad: The Monstars (also known as The Nerdlucks) are the secondary antagonists of the film, being under the command of their Bad Boss who wants to enslave the Looney Tunes (and eventually also Michael Jordan). When the Monstars lose the game, however, Michael encourages them indirectly to stop follwing the orders of a mean-spirited villain who is now smaller than them.
  • Real Event, Fictional Cause: Michael Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls after saving the Looney Tunes from a horrible fate, because Charles Barkley, Muggsy Bogues, Shawn Bradley, Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson believed he couldn't play the game any more.
  • Recursive Canon: Jordan changes the channel to a 1952 Roadrunner cartoon for his kids to watch, in which 1996 Porky Pig appears, saying it has to be stopped. The kids wonder where the characters went. Immediately after this, in Looney Tune Land of the films, Wile E. Coyote arrives at the town hall, somehow arriving from said televised cartoon.
  • Recognition Failure: When Bill Murray shows up to help out the Looney Tunes in the final minute of the game, Swackhammer mistakes Murray for his Saturday Night Live and Ghostbusters co-star Dan Aykroyd.
  • Redhead In Green: Both Pound and Bang are unconventional examples of this trope. Pound has orange skin and, in his Nerdluck form, only wears a green bow tie while Bang, whose skin is green, grows red hair upon mutating into his Monstar form.
  • Rigged Spectacle Fight: The villains plan to use Michael Jordan as an attraction where customers will play against him in a one-on-one basketball match as he's chained to an iron ball and there are stairs leading to the basket, allowing the tiny monster to dunk the ball effortlessly.
  • Rod And Reel Repurposed: Sylvester casts a fishing rod to snag the shorts of Monstar Pound. Suddenly denuded, Pound cannot continue upcourt, instead sitting in place and pulling his jersey as far down as possible. "Nice butt!"
  • Roger Rabbit Effect: Just with a different rabbit or two. And in a reverse of the Trope Namer, most scenes are "actors in a cartoon world" instead of "cartoons in the real world".
  • Rule of Funny: This is Loony Toon land. They can do strange things because it's funny and the Big Bad wants them because he wants to add comedy to his theme park.

    S to Y 
  • Self-Deprecation: The Looney Tunes being Merchandise-Driven.
    Bugs: Speaking of toys, you know all those mugs and t-shirts lunchboxes with our pictures on em?
    Daffy: Yeah.
    Bugs: You, uh, ever seen any money from all that stuff?
    Daffy: [scoff] Not a cent.
    Bugs: Hm, me neither.
    Daffy: [sigh] It's a crying shame. We gotta get new agents, we're getting screwed.
  • Sexophone: Plays at one point during Lola's introduction scene.
  • Sexy Silhouette: Lola appears in a form of this upon entering the arena for the game.
  • Shapeshifting Excludes Clothing: Having lost the Ultimate Game to the Looney Tunes, the Monstars surrender their Liquid Assets and shrink to Nerdluck size. Their Monstar uniforms do not shrink, leaving the Nerdlucks unclothed. Pound lampshades this: "My clothes don't fit."
  • Shout-Out:
    • The beginning of Bugs's meeting with the other Looney Tune characters on how to deal with the Nerdlucks is visually right out of Patton.
    • During the exams, Larry Johnson mentions being that his grandmother can play better than him. At the time, Johnson played the Grandmama in a Converse commercial.
    • Sam and Elmer shoot out Bupkis' teeth while dressed in tuxedos and sunglasses to the tune of "Misirlou", an obvious shout out to Pulp Fiction, a then new movie.
    • The dunk that wins the game for the Tune Squad is a reference to Michael Jordan's famous buzzer-beaters.
    • The stadium housing the game is "Leon Schlesinger Gym" after the producer of the early Merry Melodies/Looney Tunes cartoons.
    • When the Nerdlucks are scouting talent to steal, they pile into a trench coat, fedora, and multicolor scarf reminiscent of another well known alien visitor, particularly the version played by Tom Baker.
  • Show Within a Show: In an early scene set in Michael Jordan's living room, the TV is blaring a sports show hosted by Jim Rome, ridiculing Jordan's struggle to play baseball. This gives some exposition on why Jordan appears so mopey.
  • Sidekick Creature Nuisance: The brief cameo of Sniffles the Mouse late in the movie. Blanko smashes him with a basketball while he was talking about his views on the sport. Michael's plan worked, because Sniffles managed to annoy the Monstars into turning the ball over.
  • Slapstick: A large part of the second half of the game, most notably with Looney Tunes make their comeback (both in-universe and out).
  • Slasher Smile: The Nerdlucks get pretty damn good ones, both comedic and non-comedic.
  • Slipped the Ropes: Bugs Bunny. When the aliens have him imprisoned, and are "gloating" to the highly amused toons, Bugs is quietly rolling his eyes and slipping out of the somewhat impressive amount of rope he's bound with. And the cuffs for his ears.
  • Small Role, Big Impact: The kid at the start who complains about the amusement park inspires Swackhammer to get new attractions, thus kickstarting the entire plot.
  • Smelly Skunk: Weaponized when the Tune Squad (wearing gas masks) uses Pepe to take out three Monstars.
  • Smooch of Victory: Bugs prevents Pound from crushing Lola via Diving Save and she thanks him with a kiss. After winning the game, Bugs gives Lola a kiss once they've won.
  • Something Else Also Rises: Bugs stiffens and hits the floor with a wooden sound upon meeting Lola.
  • Sore Loser: When the Monstars lose the game, Mr. Swackhammer insults and kicks them.
  • Spit Shine: The Looney Tunes gang cleans their gym this way, with Taz then "sweeping" the spit to ensure it goes.
  • Squashed Flat: Stan after getting tackled by the Monstars, after which he is inflated like a balloon, then deflates back to normal. It's the first clue that Toon Physics applies to humans in Looney Tune Land.
  • Stalker with a Crush: Stan's behavior towards Jordan leans uncomfortably close to this, to the point that the film has had a "trailer recut" involving this as a storyline.
  • Standard Alien Spaceship: The Nerdlucks come to Earth in a spacecraft that's very sculpted and colorful, modeled roughly after a 1949 Buick Roadmaster in front and a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado in back, replete with rolled edges and chrome galore. Since it came from Moron Mountain, this craft is the space-going equivalent of an Edsel.
  • Standard Snippet:
    • During the TuneSquad's preparations for The Ultimate Game, the song "Pump Up the Jam" is heard.
    • The second round of the game opens by playing "Get Ready for This".
    • When Bugs enters the court and when Lola scores against Pound, the toon side stomps-and-claps "We Will Rock You".
    • When Jordan enters the court it plays a snippet of "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)".
    • When Elmer and Sam go MIB on Bupkis, Dick Dale's "Misirlou" (as popularized in Pulp Fiction) plays.
  • Starring Special Effects: In a way, given it basically puts a few actors inside a cartoon. And doing all the effects in just 10 months wasn't easy!
  • The Stinger: Bugs comes up and says That's All, Folks! when the credits end, but then Porky shows up to say it himself. Daffy interrupts and tries to say it, but the Nerdlucks knock him down and say it. Jordan then appears in his Tune Squad jersey, asking, "Can I go home now?"
  • Suddenly Shouting: After telling Michael Jordan why they've brought him to Looney Tune Land, Bugs sums it up with:
    Bugs Bunny: Eh, what I'm trying to say is...WE NEED YOUR HEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP!
  • Take Me Instead: Michael Jordan orders that should he and the Looney Tunes lose the game, then the aliens' boss must not enslave the Looney Tunes but may enslave him instead. The boss eagerly accepts the conditions.
  • Take That!:
  • Team Hand-Stack: The Tune Squad conducts a hand stack three times.
    • Just after the Tune Squad's starting lineup is introduced, they conduct a hand stack. Daffy Duck states he's "all set to take it to the rack, Jack," and Tweety avers that "those Monstars will wish they'd never been born." Jordan is part of the stack as well, and encourages the toons to "go out and have fun."
    • After dosing themselves with "Michael's Secret Stuff" during the halftime pep talk, Jordan invites the toons to "go out and kick some alien butt." About eight or so players join in the hand stack, then exit for the second half.
    • Once Bill Murray joins the Squad as an emergency replacement, the five on court conduct a strategy session. Jordan's plan is simple: "Somebody steal the ball, get it to me, and I'll score before time runs out." Murray likes that plan, and invites "paws and wings in here." All five Tune Squad players make the hand stack before preparing for the final ten seconds.
  • Teeth Flying: A couple examples. First, when Yosemite Sam and Elmer Fudd shoot out Monstar Bupkis' teeth when he tries to kill Wile E. Coyote when Tweety goes berserk he punches Monstar Blanko and knocks out one of his teeth; and second, when Monstar Nawt kicks Taz if you look carefully he knocks out a tooth.
  • Tempting Fate:
    • "Too bad you can't practice getting taller, boys!" And then...
    • "I'm gonna personally guarantee that no one will bother you." Just then, the Nerdlucks' spaceship flew by.
  • That's All, Folks!: Done after the end credits when Bugs Bunny says the line. Porky Pig shows up and protests, then Daffy Duck shows up saying it his way, then the Nerdlucks push Daffy away and say the line, and finally, Michael Jordan pushes up the curtain saying, "Can I go home now?"
  • This Means Warpaint: Tweety Pie daubs on eye black in the locker room during the Lock-and-Load Montage before the Ultimate Game.
  • Token White: Shawn Bradley is the only white player whose talent is stolen. This is something Bill Murray brings up when talking with Michael about his own chances in the NBA.
    Bill: It's because I'm because I'm white, isn't it?
    Michael: No. Larry's white. So what?
    Bill: Larry's not white. Larry's clear.
  • Took a Level in Badass:
    • The itty-bitty Nerdlucks use the stolen NBA talent to become ginormous Monstars.
    • Most of Looney Tunes' Ineffectual Sympathetic Villains pull off rather awesome moves in this film (Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam and Wile. E Coyote). The highlight for these three is Wile E. getting Bupkus with a basketfull of explosives, followed by Elmer and Sam going Pulp Fiction on Bupkus.
    • And His Airness goes from Badass Normal to Empowered Badass Normal once he learns how to harness Toon Physics.
  • Toon Town: The Looney Tunes have their own in the center of the Earth. No, really. And it's accessed through a portal resembling the classic Looney Tunes opening/closing title cards with the Warner Bros. Pictures logo in the center. Interestingly enough, portions of their Tooniverse also extend into deep reaches of space what with the animated alien creatures and all.
  • Torso with a View: Marvin as the referee accidentally fires his starter gun through Sylvester. Tweety flies through the hole and comments "Holey putty tat!"
  • Totem Pole Trench: The nerdlucks do this to sneak into basketball games and steal the talent from the top NBA players.
  • Transformation Sequence: Nerdlucks becoming the Monstars.
  • Trapped in Another World: Michael Jordan gets lassoed down a golf hall into the cartoon world.
  • Underestimating Badassery: The Nerdlucks are dismissed with laughter when they announce their goal to enslave the Looney Tunes... until they show of their superior firepower. Bugs is able to trick them into giving the Tunes a chance to defend themselves by challenging them to a basketball game thinking their small statures and lack of athletic skill will make them easy opponents. However, the Nerdlucks get around this by stealing the talents of basketball players.
  • Understatement: Bugs after the Nerdlucks become Monstars: "Eh, I think we may need a little help."
  • Unfazed Everyman: Stan doesn't seem too bothered at seeing Michael Jordan hanging out with the Looney Tunes.
  • Unnecessary Roughness: Monstars' style of play — and the 'Toons retaliation. Also, the real-life NBA stars who visited the set to play with Jordan... the on-court action was brutal. Marvin doesn't call a single foul against either team in the entire game, despite blatant hits with intent to injure and flagrant tampering with the court.
  • Unwitting Instigator of Doom: The alien kid who complains about Swackhammer's theme park.
  • Very Loosely Based on a True Story: As noted in the opening, the film covers Michael Jordan's retirement from basketball in favor of baseball and ends with him returning to basketball. In real life, these events took place, but the Looney Tunes and the Nerdlucks are added to the film as Gumps.
  • Visual Pun: Daffy kisses the ass of his bosses at Warner Bros. by kissing the WB trademark on his butt.
  • Vocal Dissonance: When Hubie the mouse takes over the role of sports commentator, his voice suddenly becomes sonorous.
  • Wager Slave: What the Looney Tunes — and later, Michael Jordan — are in danger of becoming if they lose the Big Game.
  • Weaponized Stench: During the second half of the game, Michael (while wearing a gas mask) holds up Pepe Le Pew to knock out the Monstars and then score for the team.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: Lola shoots Daffy a disapproving glare after he passed the ball to Granny, resulting in the Monstars dogpiling her despite the fact Granny wasn't a player nor even on the court. He weakly defends himself.
    Daffy: She was wide open!
  • Whoosh in Front of the Camera: While filming the celebration scene, one of the green-screen actors inadvertently crossed in front of Michael Jordan. This was fixed in editing by having Daffy Duck ride a champagne bottle past the camera.
  • Who Would Want to Watch Us?: In a third-person sort of way. When the basketball players consult a psychic to find out what happened to their talents, she delivers an accurate summary of the events of the film, including Michael Jordan being kidnapped by furry creatures to play basketball against talent-stealing aliens. The basketball players immediately dismiss this scenario as ridiculous and walk out on her.
  • Wolf Whistle: There's a wolf whistle coming from the audience upon Lola Bunny entering the arena for the game.
  • The Worf Effect: When Yosemite Sam tries to fight the aliens and gets zapped, all of the rest of the Looney Tunes immediately surrender.
  • Wormsign: Bugs Bunny creates a wormsign bulge in the real world (a special effect) as he and Daffy Duck approach Michael Jordan's home. This includes disturbing pavement stones. Surprisingly, while Bugs continues forward toward the house, a persnickety Daffy creates a branch wormsign that ends up in the Angry Guard Dog's doghouse. So, cartoon ducks are Tunnel Kings on par with rabbits.
  • Would Hit a Girl: Pound tries to belly-flop on Lola and crush her at one point. In addition, none of the Monstars have any problem dogpiling Granny at one point.
  • Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Downplayed. After being flicked into a wall by one of the Monstars, Tweety turns on the water works to get Michael to stand up for him and the other toons. Still, he does get hurt beforehand and the Monstars were definitely to blame for that.
  • Wrong Bathroom Incident: For the Ultimate Game, there are two locker rooms: one for the Monstars and one for the Tune Squad. The Tunes conduct a Lock-and-Load Montage in theirs, including the only girl player, namely Lola Bunny. She shares the same locker room as the boys and is seen taping her knuckles there. Presumably, she also stripped down and suited up there as well.
  • You Didn't Ask: When Jordan finds out that Cartoon Physics apply to Real World people as well in Tune-land.
    Jordan: Ten seconds to go? Thanks for telling me... Doc.
  • Your Costume Needs Work: After losing his basketball talent, Charles Barkley walks downtown when he passes by some teens playing basketball, who recognize him and ask him to shoot some hoops with them. However, when he struggles to play, they think he's a lookalike and say "Go away, wannabe", which traumatizes him, since we see him speaking with a therapist some time afterwards.


Bugs: Well, dat's all, folks.
Porky: (appears next to Bugs; stammers) That's my line! A-th-th-th—
Daffy: (pops up between Bugs and Porky, putting a hand on the latter's face) Step aside, babe! Let a star do this! THAT'S ALL, F— (is thrown out of the iris by the Nerdlucks)
Nerdlucks: THAT'S ALL, FOLKS! (Michael lifts the iris.)


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Bugs explains

Bugs Bunny tells Michael Jordan why he was brought to their world in great detail.

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