The summer movie season is about to be in the rearview mirror as Labor Day weekend heralds the beginning of fall, so far as the movie business is concerned. It ended on a mixed note, as the almost-canceled Coyote vs. Acme got its day in court and Ridley Scott’s pricey The Dog Stars gravely disappointed. But it was the horror/comedy Buddy that became the story of the weekend, defying expectations in its debut.
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Hailing from director Casper Kelly, known for Too Many Cooks and the now-infamous Adult Swim Yule Log, Buddy pulled in $5.3 million domestically over the weekend. That was roughly double what pre-weekend estimates had it doing. It’s the second-biggest opening ever for Roadside Attractions, trailing only the faith-based I Can Only Imagine ($17 million). It’s also the biggest opening ever for a Saban Films release in the company’s 12-year history.
Another interesting feather in its cap? This ranks as the biggest opening in 2026 for any movie opening on less than 1,800 screens. Buddy debuted on just 1,258, meaning its per-screen average was quite good, at $4,261. For the sake of comparison, The Dog Stars opened on 3,330 screens and opened to just $8 million, and that had the weight of Disney behind it. So yeah, this is pretty damn good.
The movie takes place inside the colorful world of a children’s TV program called “It’s Buddy!” and centers on a group of children who 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. The cast includes Cristin Milioti (The Penguin), Patton Oswalt (Deathstalker), Michael Shannon (Knives Out), Topher Grace (Heretic) and Keegan-Michael Key (The Predator).
Whether or not Buddy manages to hold well in the weeks that come remains to be seen. Can it become like Obsession, the surprise box office smash of 2026, and leg out due to legitimate word of mouth? We’re certainly not suggesting that this movie can make $500 million, but it could get a little “You need to see this” bump. Either way, it’s already a huge win for Kelly and all involved.
Looking ahead, we’ve got Fall 2: Deadpoint arriving mid-week to get September started. Director Adam Wingard’s Onslaught will hit theaters on Friday as the weekend’s big new release. The next truly big studio horror movie doesn’t arrive until Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, which premieres September 18.
Buddy is in theaters now.
