Buddy imagines Barney as a murderer
Horror fans have already been eating good this year at the movies. Both The Backrooms and Obsession have been critical and commercial successes, and show that there are still plenty of scares to mine in unexpected material. Buddy, from Too Many Cooks creator Casper Kelly, looks to be 2026’s next horror hit, and maybe the weirdest one yet.
Remember Barney the Dinosaur? What about the Teletubbies? Those fun and harmless children’s characters and staples of the ’90s are the fuel for Buddy‘s nightmare. A new trailer for the film was just released on YouTube, and it sets the stage for a terrifying experience. Set to the in-world theme song of the TV show “It’s Buddy!”, the trailer shows progressively unsettling shots of the titular mascot and a group of kids who may be forced to take part in the show. In addition to the trailer, there is also an “It’s Buddy!” YouTube channel that has uploaded short clips from the fictional show in the past two weeks.
The official description for the movie is as follows:
Remember BUDDY—the bright orange unicorn and star of that classic childrens’ 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.
Casper Kelly directs Buddy and co-wrote the script with Jamie King. Kelly is best known for creating the horror short Too Many Cooks on Adult Swim. Like that short, Buddy seems like it will play on TV nostalgia and the unexpected terror that underlies the premises behind many beloved shows. Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele) voices the titular villain of the film. Key will be joined by Topher Grace (BlacKkKlansman) and Cristin Milioti (The Penguin).
Buddy premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and received largely positive reviews from critics and audiences. It was acquired by Roadside Attractions and Saban Films at the festival. Buddy will be released in theaters on Aug. 28, 2026.
