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Buddy

Play trailer 0:35 Poster for Buddy R Now Playing 1h 35m Horror Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 72 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings
Remember BUDDY--the bright orange unicorn and star of that classic children's television show who brought joy and life lessons into your living room? Inside the colorful world of "It's Buddy!", a group of children spend their days singing, dancing, and helping Buddy spread happiness. But when one child refuses to play along, Buddy is not pleased and cracks begin to appear in this seemingly perfect world.
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Buddy

Buddy

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Critics Consensus

Buddy weaponizes the cheery conventions of children's entertainment into an inventive, hilarious, and creepy descent into pop culture madness.

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Critics Reviews

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Erik Piepenburg New York Times 4h
Look past some logical holes and desultory messages, and there’s a playfully twisted and unsparingly gory horror romp here that fans of Kelly’s 2014 viral short film, “Too Many Cooks,” a macabre sitcom sendup, will eat up. Go to Full Review
Keith Phipps The Reveal 6h
3/5
In its best moments, 'Buddy' raises questions about what makes certain types of children’s entertainment attractive to kids and repulsive to the grown-ups in their lives Go to Full Review
Liz Shannon Miller Consequence 6h
B+
Figuring out what the hell is going on is maybe one of the movie’s chiefest pleasures, a well-constructed puzzle box. Eventually, though, all the pieces come together for what ends up being a pretty emotional story. Go to Full Review
Sara Clements Marmalade Matinee (Medium) 1h
It’s colourful, playful, and completely committed to the bit, which makes the contrast with the horror that follows more effective. Go to Full Review
Russ Simmons KKFI-FM (Kansas City) 1h
3/5
If you’re one of the people who thought Barney the Dinosaur was a little creepy, the horror flick "Buddy" should send a shudder up your spine. Go to Full Review
Luis Pomales-Diaz Horror Press 6h
7/10
If you meet Buddy on its level, it’s by all means a success as a practical effects horror doused in rainbow aesthetics and drenched in pitch black comedy. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Andrew 41m it was pretty darn epic. See more Derek K 1h love it go see it so funny See more Durrell 2h Honestly, this was a solid 9/10 I really enjoyed it. See more Erik 2h I thought it was awesome. See more John 2h Equal parts weird and hilarious, like "Too Many Cooks", this comedy horror is worth watching with excellent performances and a compelling premise. See more Google 3h Buddy was funny and unhinged, 10/10 , the unhinged barney vibes were so good🧡🪓🦄 (Buddy was so lovable) See more Read all reviews
Buddy

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Movie Info

Synopsis Remember BUDDY--the bright orange unicorn and star of that classic children's television show who brought joy and life lessons into your living room? Inside the colorful world of "It's Buddy!", a group of children spend their days singing, dancing, and helping Buddy spread happiness. But when one child refuses to play along, Buddy is not pleased and cracks begin to appear in this seemingly perfect world.
Director
Chris 'Casper' Kelly
Producer
Tyler Davidson, Drew Sykes, Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Tracy Rosenblum
Screenwriter
Chris 'Casper' Kelly, Jamie King
Distributor
Roadside Attractions / Saban Films
Production Co
BoulderLight Pictures, Low Spark Films, Sipur Studios, Substance
Rating
R (Bloody Violence|Some Drug Content|Language)
Genre
Horror, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 28, 2026, Wide
Runtime
1h 35m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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