"What's Opera, Doc?" lampoons classic opera by using its elements to set up the latest chapter in Elmer Fudd's hapless pursuit of Bugs Bunny. We open with a silhouette of a mighty Viking arousing ferocious lightning storms ... only to find it's Elmer -- this time as the demigod Siegfried. Elmer admonishes the audience (in classical verse) to "be vewwy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits!" It's not long before Elmer comes upon Bugs' hole and sings out "Kill the wabbit!" not realizing t... (Full plot summary below)
Enjoy FREE movies and series with your Prime (USA) subscription or when you start a 30-day free trial!
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | UK only | 1 Month Free Trial | 31 Jan 2015 | 5737 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 69% |  Report: Broken Link |   |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 15 Nov 2018 | 1776 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 94% | Report: Broken Link | |
| IRELAND only | 1 Month Free Trial | 01 May 2026 | 4108 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 88% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 21 May 2018 | 557 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 84% | Report: Broken Link | |
![Its HD [Whats Opera, Doc?]](/images/logos/icons/itshd.png){kind=icon} | WORLDWIDE | ? | 10 Jan 2026 | 3135 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 86% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 28 Dec 2018 | 254 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 47% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | Free Credit | 08 Jun 2021 | 151 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 30% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 05 Jul 2024 | 81 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 17% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 06 Jun 2025 | 12 | SD / TV | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 10% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 07 Apr 2022 | 129 | HD | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 9% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | WORLDWIDE | ? | 20 Jun 2017 | 8 | SD / TV | Watch OnlineStream Instantly | 11% | Report: Broken Link | |
Links compiled using automated software. Availability of offers subject to change / might be region specific / out of date.
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 21 May 2025 | 2463 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Post | 75% |  Report: Broken Link | |
 | UK only | N/A | 21 May 2025 | 91 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Post | 62% | Report: Broken Link | |
 | USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 21 May 2025 | 177 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Mail | 12% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 21 May 2025 | 4532 | SD / DVD | DVD RentalRent by Mail | 86% | Report: Broken Link | |
| Movie Source | Available | Offers | Added | Views | Quality | Format | Rating | Link | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK only | 30 Day Free Trial | 19 Jun 2013 | 228 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Post | 63% | Report: Broken Link | |
| UK only | N/A | 19 Jun 2013 | 68 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Post | 29% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 21 May 2025 | 409 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Mail | 10% | Report: Broken Link | |
| USA only | 1 Month Free Trial | 19 Jun 2013 | 9613 | HD / BR | Blu Ray RentalRent by Mail | 79% | Report: Broken Link | |
"What's Opera, Doc?" lampoons classic opera by using its elements to set up the latest chapter in Elmer Fudd's hapless pursuit of Bugs Bunny. We open with a silhouette of a mighty Viking arousing ferocious lightning storms ... only to find it's Elmer -- this time as the demigod Siegfried. Elmer admonishes the audience (in classical verse) to "be vewwy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits!" It's not long before Elmer comes upon Bugs' hole and sings out "Kill the wabbit!" not realizing that the hare has already climbed out and is viewing Elmer spearing fruitlessly in said hole. Bugs joins in the fun, querying his tagline in operatic verse and leaving Elmer in his dust (but not before "Siegfried" shows us an example of supposed "mighty powers" from his spear and magic helmet). Elmer goes after the wascally wabbit, but his pursuit is ended when he sets his eyes on the stunningly and awesomely beautiful Valkyrie Brunhilde (Bugs in disguise). After a "hard-to-get" pursuit" (brought on by Elmer's eternally-misguided hormones) "Siegfried" and "Valkyrie" join in magnificent duet with "Return My Love." However, Bugs' scheme is exposed when his headdress falls off, enraging Elmer. The pseudo-Viking commands fierce lightning, rain, hail and wind storms (not to mention smog) to "kill the wabbit!" It works, but upon seeing the bunny's corpse, a woefully remorseful Elmer is reduced to tears as he somberly carries the "dead" Bugs into the distance. But has Bugs really been struck dead?
Leave your thoughts about What's Opera, Doc?.
| Film Freak CentralBill ChambersBy the end it's difficult to say whether Jones is lampooning Fantasia or merely envious of it. |
| User ReviewPrivate UKill the wabbit, kill the wabbit... one of the best cartoons ever ever!! |
| User ReviewTristan PWe often forget that Bugs Bunny is actually pretty gay. |
| User ReviewJonathan SChuck Jones at the top of his game. Wonderfully and imaginitively animated and Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd are hilarious as they play with operatic conventions. |
| User ReviewPetros TDelirious,blasphemous and yet ravishingly innovative! Inspired by the likes of slapstick stars,musical numbers (did i forget to say the obvious William tell reference),there's not exactly a happy ending rather a diversion of functioned tragedy...and Mel Blanc drives the vehicle of lunacy! Rossini would have loved this for sure. |
| User ReviewEdgar CThis eternal childhood favorite has the blasphemous and magical capacity of keeping such status for whole different reasons with the passage of time. It may have been its unbelievable inventiveness the one that caused this short the first one to ever be selected for the National Film Registry, but this "tragic" mess is hilarity at its maximum theatrical expression, while Bugs is chasen by the demigod Siegfried while referencing famous theater musicals. Astonishing. 99/100 |
| User ReviewMelissa BOne of the best Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd cartoons ever! |
| User ReviewFrancis LWant to enjoy Wagner's "Ring Cycle", but just don't have the time? Why not kick back, and watch Bugs and Elmer condense it down to under seven minutes. Though I don't know the background of Wagner's opera(s), my current idea is totally drawn from this excellent cartoon. With a mix of classical music (with modernized vaudevillian lyrics), and outstanding visuals, pllus the bonus of the interplay between Bugs and Elmer makes for a very enjoyable experience. Also, in my opinion, this might be an excellent way of introducing classical music to young children (along with "Rabbit of Seville"). I really can't add much more without recapping every wacky second of this production. Still, I'm obligated to mention two highlights: Elmer's repeatedly vicious "Kill da Wabbit!", and the dialog involving Elmer's "Spear and Magic Helmet". Another MUST SEE for your bucket list. |
| User ReviewByron BChuck Jones' directorial masterwork, this short cartoon retells Wagner's Ring Cycle through the lens of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. It's difficult to fully state the many strengths of What's Opera, Doc?. The animation is superb, the background paintings transcend theatrical animation, the voice acting is hilarious, and the music is a lively transcription of Siegfried's epic tragedy. Anyone who hasn't seen this yet should rectify that issue immediately. |
| User ReviewAndy PWhat's Opera, Doc?, Often considered Chuck Jones' magnum opus, lovingly lampoons Disney's Fantasia and Wagner's Ring Cycle while also re-imagines what was by then a very cliched Bug and Elmer conflict formula with stylistic expressionist backdrops, tragic romance and jokes aimed at Wagner's ponderous, operatic style. |
