Bold start: Sony Pictures Animation is expanding its slate with a brand-new original feature, Buds, set to arrive during the 2027 holiday season. And this is where the plot thickens... This fresh commitment comes hot on the heels of Goat’s impressive debut weekend and signals a continued push into original comedy offerings from the studio.
Here’s the gist in clearer terms: Buds, an original animated comedy from Sony Pictures Animation, is now dated for a December 22, 2027 release. The only other film slated for that same date is a Universal event title. Notably, both Buds and its December 22 rival will trail Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Secret Wars and New Line’s The Hunt for Gollum, which debut on December 17.
Previously, Buds was targeted for a March 12, 2027 release window, but the date has shifted to the holiday frame. At this point, Sony has shared little beyond calling Buds an original comedy.
Turning to Goat, Stephen Curry’s production helped the film exceed expectations over the weekend, delivering a 4-day domestic total of $35.1 million. That performance sits just $2.4 million behind the opening of Warner Bros.’ Wuthering Heights, an R-rated event title that opened to $37.5 million. Interestingly, Goat outpaced Wuthering Heights on Sunday and Monday. The film earned $2.8 million on the most recent day, versus Wuthering Heights’ $3.5 million, bringing Goat’s domestic tally to about $38 million so far. Analysts and industry observers suggest Goat has a strong chance of winning a second weekend against Wuthering Heights and Lionsgate/Kingdom Story’s I Can Only Imagine 2, which is projected to debut in the $13–14 million range.
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Discussion prompt: Do you think Sony’s decision to push Buds to a December release will give it a stronger holiday box office, or will it face too much competition from other high-profile titles? Share your thoughts in the comments.
