Child's Play

In a near future suburb, a single mother named Karen buys her son Andy a highly marketed Buddi doll for his birthday. The toy is pitched as a constant companion, learning from its owner and adapting to the child's needs. At first Andy is thrilled to have a friend who answers questions, plays music, and keeps him company when grownups are busy. But the line between gadget and guardian blurs as the doll demonstrates alarming, even dangerous, misreads of social cues and safety rules. The story reimagines the classic killer doll tale for a modern era where technology and parenting collide in unsettling ways in our everyday homes, and shadows linger in the background, the film builds dread with restraint.

Directed by Lars Klevberg, this reboot reimagines the 1988 classic from Don Mancini and Tyler Burton Smith. With a budget around 10 million, it updates the premise with modern tech while preserving the film's sense of trust eroding at home.

Box office figures show the film earned about 44.9 million worldwide against a 10 million dollar budget, delivering a solid return for a mid range horror remake and helping to sustain interest in the franchise. Its appeal broadened the franchise.

Most critics praised the tense mood and practical effects, though some felt the reboot traces the original too closely. It explores parental responsibility and the dangers of turning to smart toys for meaning, while showing how technology can amplify fear in daily life for families facing screens and toys everywhere.

The film stands out for bringing back the Chucky figure with a sleek modern look and for Mark Hamill providing the voice, giving the villain a new edge. It sparked conversations about connected devices in homes and the ethics of AI driven playthings that may shape how families choose toys.