Once more, the iconic, fluffy basketball celebrity from the 1990s graces our screens! (Rest assured, I’m not referring to Bugs Bunny; they already had a comeback four years ago with Space Jam: A New Legacy, and that was quite a stretch!)
On Thursday, July 24, it was revealed that the sixth movie in the main Air Bud film series (making it the 15th film in the Air Bud and Air Buddies series combined) is scheduled to be released in cinemas during the summer of 2026, according to Cineverse Studios.
The beloved basketball-playing Golden Retriever, Air Bud, will make a comeback on the basketball court the following year.
The movie was created by Robert Vince, who has previously worked on Disney’s 1997 animal sports comedy, along with its subsequent sequels and offshoots. This film is a fresh joint effort between Cineverse and ABE, the original architects of the Air Bud series.
In Vince’s words, Air Bud Returns won’t simply be another predictable sequel or remake. Instead, it promises to offer a fresh, unique narrative that will resonate with old-time Air Bud enthusiasts while also captivating a new audience, introducing them to the iconic basketball-skilled golden retriever character, Buddy.
An official synopsis for Air Bud Returns reads:
12-year old Jacob has long nurtured a dream of becoming a top basketball player. Following his father’s demise, achieving this goal seemed unattainable. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when they shift into their dad’s childhood home in Fernfield. Here, Jacob stumbles upon an original VHS tape of the Air Bud film in his father’s possessions and encounters a homeless golden retriever he names Buddy. As they navigate their way through healing, they rally a group of underdogs, pursue a championship, and learn valuable lessons about playing with heart, trusting one another, and never backing down from a challenge!
As a follower of cinema trends, I can’t help but notice the unique blend of ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia merging with Millennial parents seeking family-friendly films to enjoy with their children. It’s truly an exciting time, especially with the revival of a legendary franchise that Robert first brought to life over two decades ago through the original Air Bud movie. Cineverse is thrilled to be part of this generational connection by offering a memorable experience for fans both young and old, just as Robert did all those years ago. – Yolanda Macias, Cineverse Chief Motion Pictures Officer.
The filming of the movie is set for this summer in British Columbia. This will be the initial Air Bud movie not released by Disney.
In the 1997 film “Air Bud,” a young lad named Josh encounters a wandering Golden Retriever who shows an extraordinary knack for basketball.
In the midst of Josh’s difficulties in adapting to a fresh school environment following his father’s passing, Buddy provides him with much-needed self-assurance. However, trouble arises when Buddy’s previous cruel owner seeks to regain custody of him. In this challenging situation, Josh stands up to protect his cherished pet. Eventually, Buddy becomes a valuable member of Josh’s basketball team and earns admiration from the community by demonstrating that “there is no rule preventing a dog from playing basketball!
With an approximate production cost of $3 million, the film ultimately earned more than $27 million at the box office and proved successful in the video rental market, thus becoming a surprise success or “sleeper hit.
10 Great Sports Movies for People Who Hate Sports
Rocky (1976)
For several decades, the film “Rocky” has earned a reputation as a “tough guy” movie, often seen on college dorm walls and associated with the famous Philadelphia staircase pilgrimage. However, Rocky transcends being just a story about a man toughening up to win a boxing match. Written by Sylvester Stallone himself, the script portrays a resilient individual striving to escape a life of hardship and better his own and his loved ones’ lives by overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges. By the film’s end, Rocky, after losing the decisive fight against his formidable adversary, only seeks one thing: finding the woman he cherishes in the crowd.
Field of Dreams (1989)
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire is a film that will convince you that watching top-tier actors engaged in phone calls is the most thrilling, captivating, and suspenseful form of on-screen entertainment. Directed by Cameron Crowe, this movie revolves around two sports agents competing to keep their clients following one’s termination. It boasts an impressive lineup: Tom Cruise at his best, numerous famous footballers from the 1990s, a timeless cinematic romance, and more than half of the most memorable dialogue lines in cinema history. Indeed, “You complete me,” “You had me at hello,” “Show me the money,” and “Help me help you” are all from this very movie.
Bring It On (2000)
In a surprising twist, “Bring It On” might strike you as just another high school comedy centered around sports, but it bears a closer resemblance to a thrilling courtroom drama than a typical slapstick sports movie. (Is “Bring It On” the “Michael Clayton” of teen comedies? While it sounds audacious, upon reflection…) When a fresh face joins the high school cheer squad, they uncover a shocking truth – their routines have been copied from another local school without permission. Instead of resorting to underhanded tactics, they choose to create original cheers and prove their worth in the upcoming competition. Meanwhile, the rival team is determined to finally best them. The storyline might seem far-fetched, but it’s undeniably funny, and it makes a strong case for the legitimacy of cheerleading as a genuine sport.
Remember the Titans (2000)
As a movie enthusiast, I can confidently say that if you’re on the fence about football or movies, “Remember the Titans” is bound to win you over. It’s more than just a sports film; it’s a cinematic masterpiece that stands tall among the greats. The fact that it received mixed reviews upon its initial release only serves as a testament to how ahead of its time it was.
Denzel Washington shines in his portrayal of real-life high school football coach Herman Boone, who led a Virginia school’s football team to an undefeated 13-0 season in 1971, as desegregation was just starting to gain momentum across the nation. While there are some historical inconsistencies, it’s a powerfully engaging sports drama that showcases one of Denzel Washington’s finest performances.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
In a fun and engaging manner, “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” serves not only as an entertaining sports comedy but also as a snapshot of humor trends from the early 2000s. Ben Stiller, portraying an even more villainous version of his fitness instructor character from the cult classic “Heavyweights,” plays the role of a ruthless gym owner compelled to compete in a dodgeball tournament to gain ownership of another local gym. Although it may not be historically accurate as a guide to team dodgeball, it skillfully creates a universe where dodgeball is treated with the same importance and respect as medieval jousting tournaments were. If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge… well, you’re familiar with the rest!
Moneyball (2011)
As a passionate movie critic, I’d say if there’s one sports film that reigns supreme among those designed for non-sports enthusiasts, it’s the captivating biographical drama, “Moneyball.” This masterpiece transforms the mundane act of data analysis by “men in suits” into a mesmerizing silver screen spectacle.
In the shoes of Brad Pitt, we find ourselves following Billy Beane, a general manager for the Oakland Athletics, thrust into an almost impossible mission: Building a championship team with a minuscule budget and an unconventional approach to statistics-driven baseball analysis, known as sabermetrics.
The story unfolds as Beane defies odds and constructs a team of underdogs and overlooked players, giving them a genuine opportunity to triumph in the 2002 season. And yes, it’s a success that will leave you eagerly diving into the depths of Wikipedia to learn more about sabermetrics once the credits start rolling.
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
A film about one of the world’s longest and fastest car races is bound to be thrilling, but what’s surprising is how the underhanded business dealings within global automobile corporations make for such compelling cinema. James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari skillfully combines intricate corporate maneuvering with heart-stopping race sequences, creating a movie that not only offers an in-depth look at the workings of 1960s car racing but is also impossible to ignore. With three charismatic leads like Matt Damon, Christian Bale, and Jon Bernthal, this film is sure to withstand any impact.
The Iron Claw (2023)
If you’re looking for a film that will make you shed tears as it delves into the early days of professional wrestling, give “The Iron Claw” a try. Zac Efron plays Kevin Von Erich, one of the four Von Erich wrestling brothers, famously known in the ring as “the Iron Claw.” The movie portrays their collective story and individual destinies, which are surprisingly more tragic than the on-screen depiction. Despite this, the emotional drama is so profoundly moving and aesthetically pleasing that you might not even realize it. Balancing sports history with family dynamics, the film primarily explores the intense bond between these brothers and the competing forces of love and ambition that ultimately drive them apart.
Challengers (2024)
Luca Guadagnino made a strong debut with the film titled “Challengers“, which is a psychosexual comedy-drama revolving around three individuals who are as passionate about each other as they are about tennis. Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist portray two former doubles partners, now turned adversaries due to a dispute over the same woman (Zendaya, naturally), whose efforts to reunite them for a genuine match become central to the plot. The movie is steamy, humorous, and showcases some remarkable cinematographic techniques that elevate a sports film into a truly exceptional one.
Read More
- Прогноз криптовалюты ENA: прогнозы цены ENA
- Прогноз криптовалюты SPX: прогнозы цены SPX
- Прогноз криптовалюты FARTCOIN: прогнозы цены FARTCOIN
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 3 Release Date Estimate, News & Updates
- VIRTUAL/USD
- Прогноз криптовалюты NEXO: прогнозы цены NEXO
- Bury Me When I’m Dead (2025) Movie Review
- Доллар обгонит индонезийскую рупию? Эксперты раскрыли неожиданный сценарий
- Евро обгонит шекель? Эксперты раскрыли неожиданный сценарий
- Прогноз криптовалюты BNB: прогнозы цены BNB
2025-07-24 22:56