‘Buddy’ Posts a Strong Second Weekend as Viral Attention Builds

Buddy is showing unusual box-office momentum in its second weekend. According to Dread Central, the horror film earned approximately $5.7 million, up from its reported $5.3 million opening weekend, while expanding from 1,258 theaters to 1,771. The outlet notes that Forbes identified Buddy as only the second R-rated independent, non-franchise film of the year to increase its earnings during its second weekend. Dread Central also reports that the film’s performance is being accompanied by growing attention on social media, where clips and discussions have circulated among viewers familiar with the children’s television culture the movie references. Some of that online conversation concerns claims that parents have purchased tickets for children without realizing Buddy is an R-rated horror movie. Dread Central states that theater employees and moviegoers have shared similar accounts, including reports collected by Wide Open Country and posts on Reddit. However, the outlet could not verify videos allegedly showing angry parents leaving theaters and requesting refunds. At least one widely circulated clip appears to predate Buddy, with viewers identifying a poster for the earlier film The Barn in the background. The film’s performance has prompted Dread Central to compare its trajectory with Terrifier 2, while emphasizing that the two movies have different audiences and circumstances. The outlet cites Box Office Mojo figures showing that Terrifier 2 rose from an $805,000 opening weekend to approximately $1.03 million in its second weekend, then reached about $1.76 million in its third and $1.9 million in its fourth. Its domestic theatrical run ultimately totaled approximately $10.64 million, according to the report. Dread Central characterizes the comparison as one of momentum rather than gross or audience and predicts that Buddy could continue gaining attention through September and into October. That forecast remains the outlet’s assessment, not a confirmed projection. The report also speculates that a sequel, Buddy 2, could follow, but no official sequel announcement is provided. Directed and co-written by Casper Kelly and Jamie King, Buddy is set within the fictional children’s series It’s Buddy!, where the orange unicorn mascot begins to break down after a child refuses to participate. Keegan-Michael Key voices Buddy, with Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Michael Shannon, Delaney Quinn, Patton Oswalt and Eric Bauza also listed among the cast.