Twenty‑eight years after the memorable Space Jam: A New Legacy, the franchise returns with its third installment: Space Jam 3: Court of the Cosmos, directed by Jon M. Chu and co-written by Elijah Koteas and Nana Mensah. The film once again blends live‑action and animation, this time catapulting the Looney Tunes gang and a new basketball prodigy into an interstellar showdown.
This time, the protagonist is Zara “Zee” Robinson, a 16‑year‑old virtual‑reality sports phenom who dreams of playing in the NBA. Zee’s high‑tech training attracts the attention of Loony, the mischievous AI mascot created by Warner Bros. When intergalactic sports overlord Xeron (voiced by Benedict Wong) challenges our heroes to a cosmic court battle, Zee, Bugs, Lola, Tweety, and Daffy are whisked off through wormholes into the star-studded Galactic Arena.
The stakes are higher than ever. If Zee’s team loses, Earth’s entire entertainment network gets digitized into Xeron’s cosmic game vault. To prepare, the Toons recruit NBA legend Candace Parker—playing a coach version of herself—alongside virtual trainers and cosmic playmakers. The result is a series of stunning training montages: zero-gravity dribbling, gravity-defying slam dunks on rotating asteroid platforms, and dazzling holographic strategy grids.
What truly shines in Court of the Cosmos is the tone and chemistry. Zee’s wide‑eyed wonder and inner doubt make her a sympathetic and relatable lead. The Looney Tunes characters bring back their classic humor, yet feel refreshed—Lola gets a heartfelt subplot about proving herself; Daffy endures gleeful slapstick ruptures in alien anti-duck tech; and Marvin the Martian receives a redemption arc that’s surprisingly touching.
The animation is nothing short of spectacular—interweaving cel-style expressions with polished 3D cosmic environments. Choreographed sequences shift seamlessly between comedic chaos and high-octane athleticism. The cosmic court, with its nebula-streaked floors and gravitational manipulations, becomes a character in its own right.
Beyond the spectacle, the film tackles themes of teamwork, identity, and balancing innovation with heart. Zee’s journey is not just about victory, but trusting her instincts when technology fails. By the final cosmic buzzer, Court of the Cosmos leaves viewers cheering not only for the win but for the characters who grew along the way.
