‘Buddy’ Streaming Status Revealed as Casper Kelly’s Killer Unicorn Horror Comedy Opens in Theaters

Anyone hunting for a way to stream ‘Buddy’ this week is going to run into the same answer from every corner of the internet. The killer unicorn horror comedy from director Casper Kelly is a theatrical release right now, and there is no legal streaming option available yet for viewers who want to watch from home.

The film follows a beloved children’s television mascot named Buddy, a towering orange unicorn who hosts the show ‘It’s Buddy!’ and spends his days singing and dancing with a group of kids. When one child refuses to play along, Buddy turns on the group, and the kids are forced to escape his rampage before things spiral further out of control.

Where to Watch ‘Buddy’ In Theaters Right Now

‘Buddy’ can currently only be seen on the big screen, with tickets available through major chains including Cinemark, Harkins Theatres, and Marcus Theatres, according to JustWatch.

The film comes from BoulderLight Pictures and Low Spark Films, and it stars Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, and Patton Oswalt, with Casper Kelly directing from a script he co-wrote with Jamie King.

‘Buddy’ first premiered in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival in January, and Roadside Attractions and Saban Films later acquired the North American distribution rights and locked in a wide theatrical release.

Some outlets, including Moviefone, list the film’s theatrical debut as August 28, while the original distribution announcement pointed to a wide release on September 4, so moviegoers checking local showtimes may see slightly different rollout dates depending on their market.

‘Buddy’ Digital and VOD Release Date

For those hoping to catch ‘Buddy’ from their couch, the wait is not over yet. TV Guide currently lists the film as not available to stream, and JustWatch reports that no digital provider has picked up an offer for the title as of now.

Movie Insider estimates a digital and video on demand release for ‘Buddy’ sometime in September, though that date has not been officially confirmed by the studio and could shift as the theatrical run plays out.

Given that ‘Buddy’ only just landed in theaters, a typical premium VOD window would put a home streaming debut several weeks after the wide release, which tracks with the unconfirmed September estimate currently circulating.

Viewers should expect the film to eventually land on a major platform for digital purchase or rental before any subscription streaming deal is announced, which is the standard path for a theatrical horror release of this scale.

‘Buddy’ DVD and Blu-ray Release

Physical media collectors have a slightly clearer timeline to work with. Movie Insider projects a DVD and Blu-ray release for ‘Buddy’ in October, roughly a month after the estimated digital debut, with pre-orders already listed on Amazon.

As with the digital date, this timeline is an estimate rather than an official confirmation, and horror fans who prefer physical copies should keep an eye on updates as the film’s theatrical run progresses.

Roadside Attractions and Saban Films have not yet issued a formal statement locking in either the digital or physical release windows, so the September and October estimates remain the most concrete information available.

Critical Reception and Cast of ‘Buddy’

Critics have responded warmly to Kelly’s feature debut, with ‘Buddy’ holding an 87 percent positive score from 95 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

The New York Post’s Johnny Oleksinski praised the film’s opening stretch as sharply funny before noting that the story shifts once Milioti and Grace’s parent characters take over the narrative in the outside world.

The Daily Beast’s Nick Schager described the movie as a horror comedy that turns its weapons on its own cheerful mascot while still embracing his unsettling energy, and one reviewer on IMDb called the film destined for cult status thanks to its blend of gore, comedy, and film references.

The film’s September 4 release date also puts it in a crowded weekend alongside David Leitch’s ‘How to Rob a Bank,’ Mark Wahlberg’s ‘By Any Means,’ the Ryan Reynolds led ‘Mayday,’ and the Isla Fisher starring ‘Spa Weekend,’ with holdovers like ‘The Dog Stars’ and ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ still in theaters. Kelly has been vocal about wanting audiences to see the film theatrically, telling Deadline that the theatrical experience means so much to him personally and that he made the movie to be experienced in a theater.

For now, the only way to see Buddy’s descent into chaos is to buy a ticket, and with a home release still weeks away at best, fans debating whether the killer unicorn earns its cult classic label will have plenty of time to compare notes before it hits streaming.