Buddy (2026)

Buddy is a 2026 American horror comedy about children trapped in a children’s TV show hosted by a malevolent orange unicorn.

At a glance

Release date	January 22, 2026 (Sundance); August 28, 2026 (United States)
Director	Casper Kelly
Writers	Casper Kelly, Jamie King
Starring	Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Patton Oswalt, Clint Howard, Michael Shannon, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key
Runtime	96 minutes
Rating	R
Genre	Horror comedy
Budget	About $3 million
Box office	About $26 to $27 million

Plot summary

Buddy is the host of a 1990s children’s show, a giant orange unicorn played in a practical suit. The set is bright, the lessons are simple, and the children on the show cannot leave. Kelly, who made Too Many Cooks and the Adult Swim Yule Log, treats the format as the trap. The songs repeat. The rules of a kids’ show are enforced by something that is not a performer anymore.

Spoiler section: the ending

The escape is not a wink at the audience. The children who get out do not get the show back into a joke. Buddy remains the host of the world he was built for. The film ends on the format, not on a sequel tease.

Production and behind the scenes

Kelly directed and co-wrote with Jamie King. The unicorn was a suit and puppet work, not a CGI character. Keegan-Michael Key voices Buddy. Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Topher Grace, Michael Shannon, Patton Oswalt, and Clint Howard appear. Budget was about $3 million. Zach Kuperstein shot it. Michael Yezerski scored it.

Release and reception

Buddy premiered in the Midnight section at Sundance on January 22, 2026. Roadside Attractions and Saban Films released it in the United States on August 28, 2026, moved up from a September 4 date. It passed about $26 million and was reported as the highest-grossing Sundance 2026 acquisition and the highest-grossing Saban Films release. Digital release followed on October 13, 2026.