Joshua Bailey’s documentary Stolen Kingdom is heading to theaters across North America beginning May 21, 2026, with a nationwide theatrical roadshow that will bring the Disney heist film to independent cinemas in 23 cities through mid-June.
The 74-minute documentary, which premiered at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival to enthusiastic audiences, examines the shadow world of Disney superfans, urban explorers, and black market memorabilia dealers operating within the Walt Disney World ecosystem. The film’s central mystery centers on the 2018 theft of Buzzy, a half-million-dollar animatronic from Epcot’s now-closed Cranium Command attraction.
All theatrical roadshow screenings will feature filmmaker Q&As with Joshua Bailey, giving audiences the opportunity to engage directly with the director following each screening.
What Is Stolen Kingdom?
The documentary traces the history of mischief, scandal, and theft at Walt Disney World, following key figures from the park’s underground community as they share their stories. Early pranks and antics are shown to have inspired more recent, serious crimes, ultimately culminating in the true-crime mystery of the missing Buzzy animatronic.
The film features interviews with Patrick Spikes, a former Disney cast member convicted of stealing and trafficking in Disney artifacts, and prominent figures in the urban exploration and theme park YouTube communities. Through archival footage, user-generated videos, and firsthand accounts, Stolen Kingdom constructs a narrative that begins as a tale of friendship and passion before evolving into a genuine criminal investigation.
As Bobcat Goldthwait noted in his endorsement: “Outrageous, fascinating, and brilliantly well told! See it before it’s illegal!”
The Roadshow Schedule
The theatrical roadshow kicks off on the West Coast before moving eastward and into the Midwest and South. The complete schedule of confirmed dates is as follows:
May 21 – Los Angeles, California / Laemmle North Hollywood
May 22 – Los Angeles, California / Brain Dead Studios
May 23 – Palm Springs, California / Festival Theaters
May 24 – San Diego, California / Digital Gym Cinemas
May 25 – Santa Ana, California / The Frida Cinema
May 26 – Ojai, California / Ojai Playhouse
May 27 – Dennis, Massachusetts / Cape Cinema
May 28 – Catskill, New York / Community Theater
May 29 – Syracuse, New York / The Palace Theater
May 30 – Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey / Smodcastle Cinemas
May 31 – Somerville, Massachusetts / Somerville Theater
June 1 – New York City, New York / TBA
June 2 – Davenport, Iowa / The Last Picture House
June 3 – Chicago, Illinois / The Music Box Theater
June 4 – Minneapolis, Minnesota / The Heights
June 6 – Houston, Texas / TBA
June 7 – Austin, Texas / TBA
June 8 – Dallas, Texas / The Texas Theater
June 10 – Miami, Florida / O Cinemas
June 11 – Atlanta, Georgia / Tara Theater
June 12 – Franklin, Tennessee / Franklin Theater
June 13 – Tampa, Florida / Sun-Ray Cinemas
June 14 – Sarasota, Florida / TBA
Additional cities and venues may be added to the roadshow schedule; interested parties should check the official website for updates.
Learn More from the Filmmaker
Film Threat recently sat down with director Joshua Bailey at the Slamdance Film Festival to discuss how the documentary came together, his relationship-building with subjects in the underground Disney community, the legal and ethical considerations of making the film, and his vision for distribution.
Bailey discussed the challenges of securing access to the film’s key participants, the archival research process that involved hundreds of hours of footage, and how the film evolved from an initial interest in urban exploration into a full-fledged true-crime investigation centered on the Buzzy theft.
About Stolen Kingdom
Stolen Kingdom is the directorial debut of Joshua Bailey, who grew up in Tampa, Florida, moved to Orlando at 18, and worked at Walt Disney World before being inspired to tell this story. The film was produced by Bailey’s production company in collaboration with Bright Sun Films, the YouTube channel known for documenting abandoned Disney locations.
For complete information about the theatrical roadshow, screening times, tickets, and potential future distribution plans, visit stolenkingdomfilm.com. Follow updates on Instagram at @stolenkingdomfilm.
