Keegan-Michael Key’s new horror movie Buddy continues its surprising box office success. The surreal horror comedy has reached multiple major earnings milestones, exceeding initial expectations.
Buddy earned $5,363,827 during its opening weekend following its August 28 theatrical debut by Roadside Attractions and Saban Films, doubling initial projections. This marks the biggest opening of the year for a movie playing in fewer than 1,800 screens, or 1,771 theaters. Needless to say, the numbers are exceedingly promising for an independent, R-rated horror production.
Additionally, Buddy has secured Roadside Attraction’s highest opening weekend since the pandemic. The movie has the second-highest opening in the production company’s 23-year history. It is also the highest opening in Saban Films’ history.
Buddy scores a rare second-weekend increase as viral buzz keeps growing
Buddy grossed an estimated $5,745,284 in its second week, marking a 5% increase over its opening weekend. It has a cumulative earning of $14,262,585.
Beyond its box office success, Buddy is also making waves online. The movie has reached over a million followers on all social media platforms, doubling its following within just a week.
Buddy was recently spotted at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights on Thursday. The video quickly went viral and has received five million views across the movie’s social media pages.
Furthermore, Buddy currently holds an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes‘ Tomatometer and a 76% score on the Popcornmeter. According to the website’s general critics’ consensus, “Buddy weaponizes the cheery conventions of children’s entertainment into an inventive, hilarious, and creepy descent into pop culture madness.”
Directed by Casper Kelly in his feature directorial debut, Buddy follows a group of children trapped inside a 90s-style children’s television series. They must find a way to escape the sinister host, Buddy the Unicorn, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. The movie’s concept is inspired by real vintage children’s TV shows such as Barney, Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Blue’s Clues, and more.
In addition to Key, Buddy also stars Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Patton Oswalt, Clint Howard, Michael Shannon, and Topher Grace.
Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh on ComingSoon.
