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Buddy

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88% Tomatometer 124 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 1,000+ 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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Alison Willmore New York Magazine/Vulture 10h
It wants to bring to mind is not some half-remembered children’s programming but an Adult Swim show that riffed on that sort of stuff. And, costume-character carnage aside, that’s just not as compelling. Go to Full Review
Robert Abele Los Angeles Times Sep 1
Enjoyably weird to the end, its horror soul in line with the creepypasta ethos of something undefined yet eternal. Go to Full Review
Perri Nemiroff Perri Nemiroff (YouTube) Aug 31
4/5
I really love everything about how this movie was made and how practical and handmade the entire thing feels. I think it aligns with the whole concept, this being a Barney-like show. Go to Full Review
Morris Yang In Review Online 3d
Gleeful is the hand that satirizes... the cloying grotesqueries of children’s television [and] their candy-colored jubilation, and it is this realization that informs and invigorates Casper Kelly’s mean-streaked feature debut. Go to Full Review
Korey Coleman Double Toasted 4d
The way the actor in the big orange Buddy costume conveys being mentally unstable and having anger issues is amazing. The film really commits to the kids' show format and nails the attention to detail. Go to Full Review
Courtney Howard Fresh Fiction 4d
3.5 out of 5
Buddy is a subversive middle finger to the generations that didn’t adequately prepare millennials and Gen Z for adulthood. ‘90s kids will feel seen, heard and – possibly – scared. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Tylon 4h Loved how the movie was all cute and child-like until it wasn’t! If you want to see Mr. Crocket on crack this is what you gotta see! See more alicia 5h Excellent movie definitely not one for children but it’s a movie adults can enjoy!! See more Klevar M 6h I liked how the movie played with different perspectives of reality. Left with some questions but still a good ride. First 30 mins is bringing you into the buddy show then it gets real See more Sam 6h I was entertained, good pace, unique concept. See more Joemama 7h It was coo and all but it was more of a kids movie and then the freaky scene was weird but funny to add! See more Junior J 7h Might be better than the Michael Jackson movie. 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)
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 28, 2026, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.5M
Runtime
1h 35m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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