Convention - CinemaCon 2026 : Air Bud Returns brings a beloved family franchise back to theaters after nearly 30 years

By Mulder, Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, suite Barco, 15 april 2026

At CinemaCon 2026, held at Caesars Palace, one of the most moving and unexpected presentations didn’t come from a superhero reboot or a high-profile drama, but from a golden retriever. On April 15, in the private Barco suite, we got our first look at Air Bud Returns, the long-awaited revival of one of the most iconic family franchises of the past three decades. Afterward, writer-director Robert Vince appeared for interviews alongside Buddy himself.

The new film isn’t a remake in the strict sense, nor is it simply another sequel. It positions itself as a generational handoff: children are discovering Buddy for the first time, while parents are reminiscing about the original 1997 phenomenon. The official tagline repeated throughout the presentation was the franchise’s iconic line: “There’s still no rule that says a dog can’t play basketball,” and the footage shown would draw precisely on that blend of sincerity and absurdity that made the first film a success. Rather than parodying its own legacy, Air Bud Returns seems determined to treat optimism as a strength, not a weakness. In a market often dominated by irony, this may be its wisest choice.

In terms of the plot, the film follows Jacob, a 12-year-old boy mourning the death of his father who moves with his mother to Fernfield, Washington. There, he discovers an old VHS tape of the original Air Bud movie and befriends a stray golden retriever named Buddy. Together with the neighborhood kids, they form a basketball team and set out to win the championship. It’s a story based on a recurring theme: a child finding his footing through sports, friendship, and a dog that changes everything. The VHS element is particularly clever. It transforms the original film into a relic of that era, acknowledging how physical media, childhood nostalgia, and inherited family stories now intertwine for modern audiences.

This nostalgic strategy is no accident. Distributor Cineverse has increasingly demonstrated its talent for identifying underserved fan communities and effectively monetizing them, whether through genre imprints, catalog titles, or targeted theatrical releases. Supporting a family-friendly title with existing brand recognition offers the company the opportunity to expand its audience beyond horror and cult film fans. For theater operators, this is significant: multigenerational family attendance remains one of the healthiest cinematic habits, especially when the concept is immediately understandable worldwide. A dog playing basketball needs no translation.

This release also marks a significant milestone for the industry. Air Bud Returns is set to hit theaters in the United States on January 22, 2027, making it the first Air Bud film to be released in theaters since Air Bud: Golden Receiver in 1998. This gap of nearly three decades is remarkable. Few family-friendly brands disappear from movie theaters for so long and return with their recognizable value intact. Most franchises die out completely or survive only as metadata in the streaming era. Air Bud, on the other hand, has remained culturally alive thanks to memes, cable reruns, home videos, and the persistent joke that no one has ever refuted that loophole in the rules.

Behind the camera, Robert Vince remains the key figure ensuring continuity. He wrote, directed, and produced the new film after helping shape the franchise at large for years. At a time when the revival of classics is often entrusted to outside teams, his presence suggests stewardship rather than exploitation. The cast includes Aydin Artis, Tracy Ifeachor, Edwin Lee Gibson, Tyler Labine, Erik Gow, and Maxim Swinton, while the golden retrievers Charlie and Summer were selected from over 5,000 dogs to share Buddy’s duties during sports and stunt sequences. This final detail reveals just how seriously the production takes the central role.

Filming began in Fort Langley in October 2025 and wrapped up in November of the same year, continuing the franchise’s longstanding Canadian production roots. This continuity is important aesthetically: the look of the Pacific Northwest, the warmth of the suburbs, and the wide-open outdoors have always been part of Air Bud’s identity. Even when audiences couldn’t name the locations, they could feel them. The visual return to this setting should reassure longtime fans while offering younger viewers a timeless backdrop, free from the overly polished veneer of franchises.

What made the biggest impression at CinemaCon, however, wasn’t the profitability analysis or the release strategy. It was the audience’s reaction when Buddy appeared. Industry events are usually filled with calculated applause. Here, it was different—more relaxed, louder, more human. People were laughing before a line was even finished. They were leaning forward. Some clearly remembered their childhoods when the first film came out. In a room focused on predicting trends, Air Bud Returns reminded everyone of a simpler truth: audiences always respond to sincerity when it’s delivered with confidence. If the film manages to capture even a fraction of that theater atmosphere, Buddy might just score another hit.

Discover our short interview with Buddy and Robert Vince :

Discover our photos in our Flickr page

Synopsis : 
12-year-old Jacob, coping with his father's death, moves with his mother to Fernfield, Washington. There, he finds a VHS copy of Air Bud and befriends a stray Golden Retriever named Buddy. Together, they join local children to form a basketball team and compete for a championship.

Air Bud Returns
Written and directed by Robert Vince
Produced by Anna McRoberts, Robert Vince
Starring  Aydin Artis, Tracy Ifeachor, Edwin Lee Gibson, Tyler Labine, Erik Gow, Maxim Swinton
Cinematography : Kailey Schwerman
Edited by Kyle Williams
Production company : Air Bud Entertainment
Distributed by Cineverse (United States)
Release date : January 22, 2027 (United States)
Running time : NC

Photos and video 4K: Boris Colletier

We would like to thank Nathan for his help during my interview and for his work on our video.