By Mallory Mattingly
Everyone’s favorite athletic golden retriever will return to the court for an all-new film: AIR BUD RETURNS.
Cineverse and Air Bud Entertainment announced that AIR BUD RETURNS will release Summer 2026.
“Anyone who follows the box office knows that we are experiencing an important moment at the intersection of ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia and Millennial parents looking for family-friendly movies to share with their kids,” Cineverse Chief Motion Pictures Officer Yolanda Macias said in the press release.
“With the return of an iconic franchise that has remained popular since Robert created the OG AIR BUD more than 28 years ago, we are offering a real treat that will resonate with fans across generations,” she continued. “This is the ideal first project for us as we expand our theatrical strategy to the kids and family category.”
“AIR BUD RETURNS isn’t just another sequel or remake — it’s a unique story,” writer and director Robert Vince echoed. “This movie will engage nostalgic AIR BUD fans while introducing a new generation to the beloved basketball-playing golden retriever, Buddy. It builds upon the legacy of the OG AIR BUD with all the fun, the magic, heartwarming scenes, and Buddy playing basketball. More than anything, it’s a deeply human story about a dog and boy, centered on themes of adaptation, redemption, and teamwork.”
AIR BUD RETURNS will chronicle a 12-year-old boy named Jacob who has “always dreamt of being a star basketball player. After the passing of his father, that dream felt even more impossible. But everything changes when he and his mom move into his dad’s childhood home in Fernfield.”
“There, Jacob discovers an original VHS of the AIR BUD movie in his father’s belongings and has a chance meeting of a stray golden retriever he names Buddy,” the synopsis continues. “Together, they embark on a journey of healing, unite a team of misfits, and chase a championship. Through it all, they learn to play from the heart, believe in each other, and always take the shot!”
Movieguide® praised the original AIR BUD’s family-forward themes:
A family film in the best sense, AIR BUD provides parents with several scenes in which they can discuss good family values with their children: selflessness, teamwork, hard work, good stewardship, and family togetherness. With a charming canine lead, AIR BUD is a worthwhile movie which richly rewards the family who views it together. This surprising, thoroughly winsome comedy with genuine emotion, boasts a likable cast and strong moral values, with almost no objectionable elements
According to Variety, AIR BUD RETURNS will be Cineverse’s first family feature film. It will begin production soon in Fort Langley, British Columbia, where the original was shot.
AIR BUD fans can’t wait to see what’s next for this beloved franchise.
Read Next: AIR BUD IV: SEVENTH INNING FETCH
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