Buddy the Unicorn

Buddy is a 2026 American black comedy supernatural horror film directed by Casper Kelly (in his feature directorial debut) and written by Kelly and Jamie King. The film stars Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Patton Oswalt, Clint Howard, Michael Shannon, Topher Grace, and Keegan-Michael Key as the voice of the title character. It follows a group of children trapped inside a surreal 1990s-style children's television series who must find a way to escape when their giant, bright-orange unicorn host turns into a brutal, malevolent nightmare as a woman related to one of them also ends up drawn into the series.

Buddy premiered in the Midnight section of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2026, and was theatrically released in the United States on August 28, 2026, by Roadside Attractions and Saban Films. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.

It's Buddy! is a forgotten 1999 children's television series hosted by the titular Buddy, an anthropomorphic talking unicorn with magic powers. Other cast members include Buddy's co-host Betty Bunny; child actor Freddy, Wade, Josh, and Oliver; supporting characters Mailman Miles and Nurse Nancy; and sentient objects Mr. Mailbox, Couchy the Couch, Clocky the Clock, Strappy the Backpack, and Charlie the Train.

Despite an increasingly angry Buddy coercing him, Josh refuses to participate in a dance party (preferring to read his YA novel A Wrinkle in Reality) and inexplicably disappears. He is replaced with another child, Hannah, while Buddy assures everyone that Josh is traveling to Diamond City. When Freddy finds Josh's bloodstained book in the trash, she consults Nancy, who promises to talk to Buddy.