Buddy (2026)
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Children trapped inside a surreal 1990s-style children's television show must find a way to escape a malevolent unicorn host.
The story
The film follows children trapped inside a surreal 1990s Barney & Friends-style children's television series who must find a way to escape their malevolent unicorn television host. The story begins as the children, including characters like Freddy, Wade, and Hannah, navigate the bizarre world of 'It's Buddy!', a show hosted by an anthropomorphic unicorn with magical powers. As the children realize the danger posed by the host, they must navigate the surreal environment and find a way to escape the confines of the broadcast before they are permanently trapped or harmed by the host's growing hostility.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the world of 'It's Buddy!', a 1990s-style children's show, children like Freddy, Wade, and Hannah are trapped by a malevolent unicorn host named Buddy. After Josh disappears, he is replaced by Hannah. Freddy discovers a bloodstained book and witnesses Buddy's violence. The children attempt to escape to 'Diamond City' via a train, but Buddy intervenes, killing several characters and disfiguring Wade. Meanwhile, in the real world, a woman named Grace is pulled into the show by Buddy's hand, taking the role of Nurse Nancy. The children encounter elderly survivors George and Willie, who have hidden from Buddy for years. After a psychedelic experience, the children reach Diamond City, only to find it is a miniature model. Buddy eventually mutates into 'Dark Buddy' after being mocked. Grace sacrifices herself to allow the remaining children to escape. After a final confrontation where Buddy is reverted to his original form, he pursues the children through a well. Freddy eventually breaks through a television screen into a real-world living room, finding herself in a different house, while the other children remain trapped or transformed.
- First release year
- 2026
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Casper Kelly
- Writers
- Casper Kelly · writer; Jamie King · writer
- Cast and characters
- Cristin Milioti · Grace; Delaney Quinn · Freddy; Clint Howard · George; Topher Grace · Ben; Caleb Williams · Wade; Tristan Borders · Oliver; Madison Skyy Polan · Hannah; Phuong Kubacki · Nurse Nancy; Bennie Taylor · Mailman Miles; Luke Speakman · Josh; Tory Jacqui Malone · Tyler; Conner Stumm · Mailman Justin
- Genres
- postmodernist; supernatural; black comedy; slasher
- Themes
- forced cheerfulness
- Tone and mood
- black comedy; slasher
- Premise and plot tags
- multiverse; meta-fiction; trapped in a game/show
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews and grossed $27 million on a $3 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 67 · scale: 100 · review count: 22
- Production trivia
- The production design drew parallels to the institutional compliance found in historical youth programs.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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