Casper Kelly’s Buddy debuted in theaters the weekend of August 28 with a better than expected $5.3 million haul, which gave the Barney-inspired horror movie the highest opening this year for any movie showing on under 1,800 screens. In its second weekend of release, Buddy just did something very few movies are ever able to do: make more money than their first weekend!
Buddy joins Obsession as the only wide release film to increase second weekend box office gains this year, with the Roadside Attractions and Saban Films release grossing an estimated $7,305,343 over the 4-day weekend with a total of $15,822,917 (in 1,771 U.S. theaters).
Buddy is Roadside Attractions’ highest opening weekend since the pandemic and also its second highest opening in its 23-year history. It’s also Saban’s highest opening in its 12-year history.
The production budget for Buddy was a reported $3 million, so this low budget original indie horror movie already started turning a profit in just a matter of days into its theatrical release.
The film was originally released in 1,277 U.S. theaters for its opening weekend, with the word-of-mouth leading to an expanded release in more theaters for its second weekend.
Can the film grow even bigger in its third week of release? Stay tuned for updates.
Buddy centers on the titular unicorn mascot — a beloved children’s TV host with a squeaky-clean persona that belies his true nature as a dark and violent force of nature.
Here’s the official synopsis: “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.”
Cristin Milioti stars as Grace, a suburban mother inadvertently drawn into Buddy’s nightmare world, with Delaney Quinn as Freddy, a brave girl who begins to fight back against Buddy when he shows his true self. Keegan-Michael Key voices Buddy. The horror movie’s cast also includes Topher Grace, Michael Shannon, and Patton Oswalt.
Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “Casper Kelly drops viewers straight into the world of a kids’ show with a high-concept horror comedy that dials up the absurdities of kids’ television programming to a lethal degree. Those on board with an experimental structure and Kelly’s darkly playful sense of humor will find this raucous midnighter highly entertaining.”
Buddy is certified fresh at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
