Sony takes international rights to Sundance horror hit Buddy
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has bought all international rights to Buddy, the Sundance horror film about a plush orange unicorn that turns violent.
The price was high seven figures. Sony beat multiple suitors for the rights outside North America, Deadline reported on 1 October 2026.
The deal follows a strong run at home. Buddy had grossed $26.5 million at the domestic box office, the United States and Canada, as reported on 1 October 2026. That makes it the highest-grossing film from this year's Sundance crop, just ahead of The Invite.
The price was high seven figures. The budget was under $5 million.
Buddy premiered in the Midnight section at Sundance, the festival slot reserved for horror and late-night genre titles. It is the feature directorial debut of Casper Kelly, the director behind Too Many Cooks, who wrote the script with Jamie King.
The cast is led by Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn and Topher Grace, with Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon and Patton Oswalt. Key voices the title character, a plush orange unicorn that goes berserk, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Quinn joined in the lead role opposite Milioti and Grace, Deadline reported in August 2025.
In the United States, the film was released by Roadside Attractions and Saban Films. The two companies had acquired North American rights in April for a September theatrical release, Deadline reported. The film was described as an R-rated horror-comedy when it broke into the indie box-office top ranks in late August, Deadline reported.
The film was produced by BoulderLight Pictures and Low Spark Films in association with Sipur Studios and Substance. The sale was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group and Range Media Partners on behalf of the film-makers.
What makes this stand out is the maths. A film made for under $5 million has already earned more than five times that amount in one market. Sony now takes on the job of repeating that result territory by territory.
