Rebel Rabbit

Rebel Rabbit

Year: 1949

Runtime: 7 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert McKimson

AnimationComedy

The signs indicate current bounty prices: $50 for a fox, $75 for a bear, only 2 cents for a rabbit. Bugs is insulted.

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Rebel Rabbit (1949) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Rebel Rabbit (1949), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Bugs Bunny discovers a nationwide bounty lineup that values ordinary predators far more than a cute rabbit. Seeing a two-cent reward specifically for rabbits, he grows offended and vows to prove that a seemingly harmless creature can be more obnoxious than anyone else. His first act of defiance is playful yet pointed: he sprays an inked message across an officiary face and storms out, leaving the glassware of authority shattered in his wake.

What follows is a string of escalating, cartoonish pranks that blend social satire with slapstick energy. He targets the system directly, starting with a guard and escalading through increasingly audacious stunts. The pranks include renaming a famous bench to bear his own name, painting a striped pattern on a national monument, and rewiring Times Square’s lights so they announce his presence to the world. The country’s press reports on his antics as he moves about, turning public spaces into stages for his audacious demonstration.

The mischief takes him across the map: in Buffalo, New York, he halts the mighty Niagara Falls by a theatrical reveal of a faucet above and barrels below, then cheekily sells Manhattan island back to Native Americans while strolling through in a feathered headdress with a mock solemn line about barter. He goes even further, sawing Florida loose from the mainland with a cheeky quip about adding a set of dishes to seal the deal, and then he swipes the locks from the Panama Canal, all the while shouting triumphantly, “I got ’em! I got ’em! I got ’em!” His globe-spanning spree only seems to ignite his appetite for more daring stunts.

The spectacle of his pranks finally draws the fury of the political world. A bombastic congressman, echoing a southern senator stereotype, emerges to demand action, but Bugs rises from the hat of the man himself to deliver a sharp slap and a mocking kiss that punctures pompous authority. The War Department then stages a full mobilization—tanks roll out, soldiers flood the streets, cavalry charges and jet planes fill the sky as the news broadcasts the extraordinary confrontation.

With a million-dollar bounty now placed squarely on his head, the nation’s might marshals to capture him. Bugs dives into a foxhole as artillery shells circle overhead, and the question lingers in the air: has he taken things too far? The cartoon closes on a wry, live-action echo as the wind-down moment lands on Alcatraz, with the famous rodent calmly admitting, “Ehh, could be…!” in his own quiet, stubborn defiance.

Throughout his audacious journey, the wit remains sharp, the visuals are inventive, and the satire lands with a pun-filled punch. It’s a wild ride that keeps the audience guessing what ridiculous gambit will come next while quietly underlining the price of confronting power with a cartoonish, irrepressible stubbornness.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:35

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Satirical Slapstick Movies Like Rebel Rabbit

Where cartoonish anarchy becomes a sharp, playful critique of authority.If you liked the rebellious energy and sharp satire of Rebel Rabbit, discover more movies that use cartoonish chaos and slapstick humor to cleverly critique authority. These films deliver laughs alongside a defiant, subversive spirit that turns mischief into a statement.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern typically follows a clever underdog who uses wit and increasingly audacious pranks to challenge a larger, often pompous, authority figure or system. The plot is a linear, escalating sequence of gags and confrontations, leading to a conclusion that reinforces the underdog's cheeky defiance, even if they don't achieve a clean victory.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core combination of a whimsical tone, fast pacing, and light emotional weight, allowing them to tackle serious subjects through the disarming lens of comedy. They are united by a shared mood of playful rebellion, satirical edge, and triumphant mischief.

Movies With Defiant Pranksters Like Rebel Rabbit

Watch a clever trickster turn small acts of mischief into a full-blown revolt.Fans of Rebel Rabbit's escalating pranks and defiant hero will enjoy these movies featuring clever underdogs who outsmart their opponents through a series of mischievous and increasingly audacious stunts. Find similar stories of triumphant rebellion and energetic, playful conflict.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a simple, straightforward arc of rebellion, where each successful prank inspires a more daring one, raising the stakes and the comedic ante. The journey is driven by the character's unwavering defiance, leading to a climax that celebrates their cleverness and stubborn spirit, regardless of the immediate consequences.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on a specific character archetype—the defiant trickster—and a plot structure built on escalating mischief. They create a coherent vibe of energetic, cheeky triumph that appeals to viewers who enjoy clever comeuppances and playful chaos.

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Rebel Rabbit Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Rebel Rabbit

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Rebel Rabbit. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Rebel Rabbit

Rebel Rabbit Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Rebel Rabbit

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