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Credit: Pixar Animation StudiosPixar’s Lightyear (2022) has been embroiled in controversies following the addition of a same-sex couple being featured in the movie, and now the Disney movie is struggling at the box office.
Related: Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ Given “Severe Sex/Nudity” Warning for Same-Sex Scene
Pixar’s Lightyear follows the chronicles of the fictitious man that inspired the Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen/Chris Evans) toy that Andy receives at the start of Toy Story (1995).
Being branded as the Star Wars of the Toy Story universe, Lightyear is dishing up everything that science fiction and Pixar fans could dream of.
Now, Lightyear is floundering at theaters with a less-than-desired opening gross over Father’s Day weekend:
Pixar’s #Lightyear earned $85.6M in the film’s worldwide box office opening weekend.
It is biggest opening for an animated film since ‘Frozen 2’.
Pixar’s #Lightyear earned $85.6M in the film’s worldwide box office opening weekend.
It is biggest opening for an animated film since ‘Frozen 2’.
Read our review: https://t.co/e35X4SEhHU pic.twitter.com/W9JR9ZYrP3
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 19, 2022
Lightyear is the first Pixar film to release in theaters since the outbreak of COVID-19, but moviegoers aren’t flocking to this Toy Story spinoff. Lightyear‘s worldwide opening gross, unfortunately, doesn’t come close to the previous $130 million earned by Frozen II (2019) and the landmark $180 million earned during The Incredibles 2 worldwide opening weekend.
Coming nearly $20 million (grossing only $51 million at domestic theaters) under the reported $70 million that Pixar’s Lightyear was expected to earn during its domestic opening weekend, it’s clear that this new animated feature is going to have a fight for its life as new movies continue to trump the box office.
With news of the film’s lackluster box office take, fans are taking to social media to question Pixar’s latest movie:
Lightyear made $85 million in three days on a $200 million budget. Spider-Man no way home made $285 million in three days add a $200 million budget. Lightyear was a flop.
Lightyear made $85 million in three days on a $200 million budget. Spider-Man no way home made $285 million in three days add a $200 million budget. Lightyear was a flop.
— NPC0425 (@Bobbyuzumaki) June 20, 2022
Another viewer writes:
We’re living in a good time where Ms Marvel and Lightyear flop while Top Gun: Maverick blows them out of the water.
We're living in a good time where Ms Marvel and Lightyear flop while Top Gun: Maverick blows them out of the water. https://t.co/zdvxRLEfOB
— Garth Hughes ガース・ヒューズ 🇺🇸🇯🇵 (@RealGarthHughes) June 19, 2022
One viewer shares:
On top of all of this, the biggest flop indicator to me is that Buzz Lightyear was arguably the most popular character of Toy Story, in turn Pixar’s most famous franchise that always prints money… Until now – unbelievable against a month old top gun and a boring, formulaic JP6.
On top of all of this, the biggest flop indicator to me is that Buzz Lightyear was arguably the most popular character of Toy Story, in turn Pixar's most famous franchise that always prints money… Until now – unbelievable against a month old top gun and a boring, formulaic JP6.
— Serotonin (@SerotoninSystem) June 23, 2022
The less-than-assumed gross for Lightyear has spawned an online movement of the movie “flopping.” With needing to earn over $200 million to break even, only time will tell how Lightyear‘s box office legs will carry the film into the Summer months, especially with Top Gun: Maverick (2022) demolishing Hollywood and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) just around the corner.
More about Lightyear
From Disney and Pixar comes an animated sci-fi action-adventure — the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans), the hero who inspired the toy. “Lightyear” follows the legendary space ranger on an intergalactic adventure alongside ambitious recruits, Izzy (Keke Palmer), Mo (Taika Waititi) and Darby (Dale Soules), and his robot companion Sox. As this motley crew embark on their toughest mission yet, they must learn to work as a team to escape the evil Zurg (James Brolin) and his dutiful robot army who are never far behind.
Related: Scarlett Johansson Leaves Chris Evans Hanging, Leaves New Movie
Joining the previously announced Chris Evans, who lends his voice to Buzz, are Keke Palmer, Dale Soules, and Taika Waititi as a group of ambitious recruits. Peter Sohn voices Buzz’s robot companion, Sox, and the cast also includes the voices of Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. “The cast for ‘Lightyear’ is truly a dream team,” said MacLane. “Each of the performers immediately inhabited their character, which allowed us to play a bit during recording sessions. This resulted in a level of specificity that elevated the material and brought additional depth to the characters’ relationships. It has been a privilege to work with such a talented and generous cast.”’
Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino, who’s behind the scores for The Batman (2022) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), is on board to score Lightyear. Giacchino has a long history with Pixar; he won an Oscar, Golden Globe, and GRAMMY for the original score in Up (2009). His other Pixar credits include The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), Cars 2 (2011), Inside Out (2015), Coco (2017), and Incredibles 2 (2018) among others. The Lightyear Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from Walt Disney Records will be available on June 17, 2022.
Lightyear is produced by Galyn Susman (Toy Story That Time Forgot).
Are you excited to watch Lightyear? Comment below!
