Buddy Scares Up $5.36M, Sets Record For Roadside Attractions

The horror-comedy film 'Buddy' has set records for Roadside Attractions with its opening weekend box office earnings, grossing $5.36 million on 1,258 screens. This makes it the second-best opening for Roadside Attractions since Covid and the second-best ever after 'I Can Only Imagine' (2018, $17 million).

The film's success is attributed to its unique blend of horror, comedy, and emotion, as well as its online marketing campaign that connected with young audiences. The campaign included a Buddy persona who responded on text and social media, amassing over 450k followers and over 150 million views.

'Buddy' is Saban Films' highest ever opening, and it has earned the best domestic debut of 2026 so far for a movie that debuted on 1,800 screens or fewer. The film premiered at Sundance in January and debuted in theaters on August 28.

The film's performance is even more impressive considering it played on significantly fewer screens than other movies. For example, Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic movie 'The Dog Stars' debuted in more than two and a half times as many theaters, earning $8 million on 3,330 screens.

## Why it matters The success of 'Buddy' is significant because it shows that a unique and well-marketed horror-comedy film can perform well at the box office, even with a modest budget. The film's ability to connect with young audiences, with 83% of ticket buyers under the age of 35, is also notable. As the film industry continues to evolve, the success of 'Buddy' could be an indicator of the types of films that will resonate with audiences in the future.

The film's record-breaking performance is a testament to the power of innovative marketing and the appeal of horror-comedy films. With its impressive opening weekend earnings, 'Buddy' has set a new standard for Roadside Attractions and Saban Films, and it will be interesting to see how the film performs in the coming weeks.