Original 'Space Jam' Director Criticizes Sequel: 'LeBron Ain't Michael'

The director of the original Space Jam isn't happy with the hit sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Joe Pytka directed Michael Jordan in the 1996 original, which had ties to Jordan's personal life as he was nearing retirement. Pytka told TMZ the premise of his movie resonated more than the new one starring LeBron James.

"The truth is that LeBron ain't Michael," Pytka told the outlet, adding that Jordan wasn't only the best basketball player at the time but the biggest celebrity in the world.

He also had harsh words for the new animation of Bugs Bunny, who he said "looked like one of those fluffy dolls you buy at an airport gift shop to bring your kid when your business trip has taken too long."

Despite Pytka's criticism, the movie was a smash hit at the box office this past weekend.

In its opening three days, Space Jam: A New Legacy earned an estimated $31.7 million, according to the Associated Press and Variety, taking the No. 1 spot and surpassing industry expectations at the domestic box office following its July 16 premiere.