If you caught the sleeper horror hit Buddy in theaters and found yourself singing its ridiculously catchy songs days later, we've got great news for you. The absurdist horror-comedy from Casper Kelly that blew past box-office expectations is debuting in an all-new way.
Beginning October 2, 2026, America's favorite orange unicorn will debut his musical opus with Buddy: The Sing-Along Version, featuring on-screen lyrics to all of the titular character's unforgettable songs. Few things sound more delightfully cursed than a theater of people singing âYouâve Got to Be Scared to Be Brave,â âThe Wrong Place in Town,” and “It's Buddy!,” but I'm here for whatever brand of weirdness the Buddy team is willing to bring.
Here's the film's plot synopsis if you've somehow missed out on all the fun:
In the film, BUDDYâthe 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.
âBuddy audiences have inspired us like nothing weâve seen before,â said Roadside Attractions Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff and Saban Films Co-President Jonathan Saba. âTheyâre already singing and dancing in the aisles. Buddy: The Sing-Along Version is really just catching up with what these amazing fans are already doing â and we think theyâre going to love it.â
As aesthetically sweet as Buddy is, the brightly colored sets and costumes cloak something deeply sinister, so there's something poetic about sitting in the dark with a bunch of strangers to sing children's songs while a deranged mascot wreaks havoc on the lives of others. It also sounds like an absolute blast because there is something deeply broken inside of me.
To date, Buddy is the highest-grossing film for Saban Films since its inception and the third highest-grossing film ever for Roadside Attractions – surpassing the Academy Award-winning Judy, and trailing only the faith-based I Can Only Imagine and the Academy Award-winning Manchester by the Sea. The film also earned the biggest opening of the year for a film playing on fewer than 1,800 screens.
It's almost as if independent, original, rated-R horror films are what the people want! Keep your eyes peeled for tickets at your favorite theaters; they'll be available soon.
