Movie · 2022 · Animation, Science Fiction, Family, Adventure · 1h 45m · PG · English
Curator score: 3.0/10 (139.4K ratings)
Infinity awaits.
Overview
Legendary Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits and his robot companion Sox.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.0/10
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
Metacritic: 60
TMDB: 6.9/10
Director
Angus MacLane
Production
Pixar
Cast
Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, James Brolin, Uzo Aduba, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Angus MacLane, Bill Hader, Efren Ramirez, Keira Hairston, Carlos Alazraqui, William Calvert, June Christopher, David Cowgill, Terri Douglas, Jackie Gonneau, Rif Hutton
Where to watch
Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A slick, earnest sci-fi adventure with strong animation, a charming robot sidekick, and some surprisingly emotional ideas about time, duty, and legacy. It’s more interesting as a concept than as a fully satisfying story, but it has enough craft and heart to work for families and Pixar completists.
Best for
families with older kids
viewers who like polished sci-fi adventure
fans of Pixar animation and character-driven sidekicks
audiences interested in time-dilation or space-exploration stories
Skip if
you want a top-tier Pixar emotional knockout
you’re looking for a breezy, joke-heavy comedy
you dislike corporate franchise spin-offs
you prefer movies with a more original-feeling premise
Overview
Lightyear is a clean, efficient piece of animated science fiction that takes its premise seriously. The best stretch of the film is its commitment to a real space-adventure mood: time dilation, mission failure, and the loneliness of being out of sync with everyone you know give it a melancholy edge that’s unusual for a family blockbuster.
Worth noting
The movie’s biggest asset is Sox, who provides both comic relief and genuine warmth. The supporting recruits add energy, and the action is easy to follow, but the film often feels like it is assembling familiar parts rather than discovering a fresh identity of its own.
Bottom line
As a standalone adventure, it’s competent and occasionally moving; as a Pixar event, it lands closer to respectable than essential. Still, if you’re in the mood for a family-friendly space mission with a reflective streak, it has enough charm and polish to justify the trip.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Matt Singer (3.5★) · 11512 likes
A few minutes after my screening of Lightyear started, a mom and a young girl — I’d guess she was maybe 10 or 11 years old — arrived at the theater, and sat down right next to me. At first I was annoyed because I’m a germaphobic weirdo and I like to keep a little space around me at the theater these days if at all possible. This mom and daughter didn’t even leave me a buffer seat. For a… more A few minutes after my screening of Lightyear started, a mom and a young girl — I’d guess she was maybe 10 or 11 years old — arrived at the theater, and sat down right next to me. At first I was annoyed because I’m a germaphobic weirdo and I like to keep a little space around me at the theater these days if at all possible. This mom and daughter didn’t even leave me a buffer seat. For a… more
Joel Duscher (2★) · 10797 likes
In 1995 this was Andy’s favourite movie.
In 1995 Andy was a stupid dumb fucking idiot loser kid who loved a bad movie.
James (Schaffrillas) (2.5★) · 7383 likes
You are a sad, strange little movie. And you have my pity.
hoover (4★) · 4727 likes
why did zurg want to erase the lesbian couple 🤨
Patrick Willems (3★) · 3307 likes
I'm not proud of this. I know this is a confession that I am weak and an easy mark, but...I would like a toy Sox.