'Buddy' Delivers Record Post-Pandemic Launch for Roadside Attractions

Roadside Attractions and Saban Films secured a significant specialty win over the weekend with the release of the dark comedy *Buddy*. The film landed in the No. 6 spot on the overall domestic box office chart, Deadline reported.

The debut stands as Roadside Attractions' highest-grossing opening weekend since the pandemic disruption. It also ranks as the second-strongest launch in the company's distribution history, trailing only the 2018 faith-based hit *I Can Only Imagine*, which collected $17 million in its first frame.

The project serves as the feature directorial debut for Casper Kelly. Kelly, recognized for subversive short-form work, directed the film from a package backed by the producers of *Weapons*.

## Specialty Market Momentum

The strong showing provides a rare bright spot for mid-budget indie distribution. Independent and specialty theatrical releases have struggled to capture multiplex share over the past four years as consumer habits increasingly favored wide-release studio tentpoles.

For joint distributors Roadside and Saban, outperforming initial industry estimates indicates enduring appetite for high-concept genre titles. The early domestic run establishes a solid theatrical baseline before the title heads into downstream digital and ancillary windows.