Buddy Lands North American Deal, Sets September 4 Release

A children’s show turns into a nightmare in the horror film Buddy.

Roadside Attractions and Saban Films Acquire Sundance Breakout Buddy, Set for September 2026 Release

A major festival standout is heading to theaters as Roadside Attractions and Saban Films have acquired North American rights to Buddy, the genre-bending horror feature from Casper Kelly.

The film premiered in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival and continued its momentum at SXSW Film Festival, quickly building a reputation as one of the more unconventional genre titles on the circuit. It is now set for a wide theatrical release on September 4, 2026 (Labor Day weekend).

Buddy takes place inside a children’s television show that begins to unravel, transforming familiar, nostalgic elements into something increasingly unstable. The film leans into the structure and tone of classic kids programming—songs, characters, and bright presentation—before pushing that framework into darker territory.

The ensemble cast includes Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, and Patton Oswalt, bringing together a mix of comedic and dramatic talent.

Kelly, known for projects like Too Many Cooks and Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell, makes his theatrical feature debut here, continuing his pattern of blending absurdity with horror. His work often centers on the breakdown of familiar formats, and Buddy extends that approach into a full-length narrative.

Produced by BoulderLight Pictures and Low Spark Films, the film positions itself within a growing space of genre films that rework nostalgic aesthetics into psychological or horror-driven frameworks.

Following strong reactions out of its festival run, Buddy now moves into a theatrical rollout, with distributors positioning it as a standout entry in the fall horror lineup.