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Action drama

Lightyear (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Lightyear (2022) movie poster

Lightyear is a 2022 action drama starring Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear, James Brolin and Mary McDonald-Lewis. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $226.4 million worldwide on a $200 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Animation at the Artios Awards 2023. Critics gave it 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Stream it on Disney Plus, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
74%
worldwide gross
$226.4M
award nominations
2
Lightyear (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Genres
Action , Adventure , Sci-Fi , Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$200M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Lightyear About?

The premise of Lightyear without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Stranded far from Earth, legendary Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear and his robot companion Sox find themselves on a perilous planet millions of light-years away. Joined by a diverse group of new recruits, Buzz must overcome numerous challenges and face the threat of the menacing Zurg and his vast robotic forces as he desperately searches for a path home.

Lightyear Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • spin off
  • buzz lightyear character
  • cg animation
  • space adventure
  • pixar
  • toy story
  • robot
  • 3d animation
  • galaxy
  • spaceship
  • cat
  • rocket
+38 more
  • spacesuit
  • origin story
  • cgi animation
  • astronaut
  • space ranger
  • planet
  • origin of hero
  • emperor zurg character
  • time travel
  • interracial friendship
  • hero
  • villain
  • mecha
  • friendship
  • best friend
  • lesbian
  • computer animation
  • one word title
  • black woman
  • plant
  • futuristic
  • flying
  • outer space
  • armor
  • laser gun
  • helmet
  • exploration
  • male protagonist
  • adventurer
  • robot cat
  • male female friendship
  • surname as title
  • spaceship pilot
  • robotic animal
  • space travel
  • scene during end credits
  • scene after end credits
  • time dilation
Where to watch

Where to Watch Lightyear

Stream it on Disney Plus, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Lightyear Cast & Characters

Chris Evans leads the cast as Buzz Lightyear, with James Brolin as Zurg and Mary McDonald-Lewis as I.V.A.N..

Also Starring in Lightyear

· 3 more
Ratings

Lightyear Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Lightyear 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 52/100, strongest in art & craft (78) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).

52 /100

Lightyear Echo Score Breakdown

Lightyear delivers a visually polished experience, with animation and design that showcase Pixar’s technical expertise. However, the narrative feels surface‑level and the characters lack depth, resulting in an uneven emotional impact. While the humor lands for some viewers, the overall story and messaging limit its lasting appeal, making the film a modest offering rather than a standout entry in the franchise.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels with its striking animation and meticulous visual polish. Critics note the "astounding" animation and a "dazzling" first half that highlight Pixar’s advancing technique. A few user comments mention blurry visuals, but these are outliers. Overall, the craftsmanship stands out as a clear strength of the movie.

  • Character & Emotion 42

    When it comes to character and emotion, the movie falls short of delivering nuanced performances. Reviewers point to a lack of wit and depth, describing the screenplay as missing the studio’s usual inventiveness. While Chris Evans provides a solid vocal presence, many viewers find the characters stubborn and unengaging, resulting in limited emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 48

    The story and flow present a mixed picture, with a premise that intrigues but a plot that many deem surface‑level. Critics highlight the film’s reliance on familiar sci‑fi tropes and a retread feel, while a few commend the humor that lands with both children and adults. Overall, the narrative’s originality and pacing are seen as uneven, limiting overall engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 76

    Sensory experience receives strong praise, especially for its visual style and sound design. Reviewers describe the visuals as "stunning" and the first half as "wittiest comic action" in years, underscoring cohesive audiovisual execution. Although some audience members note minor visual issues, the predominant sentiment is that the film’s sensory elements enhance its overall impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    Rewatch factor appears limited, with the film offering modest replay value. While the humor may entice repeat viewings for some children, the overall narrative weakness and mixed character appeal reduce lasting desirability. Critics and users alike suggest that the movie is more of a one‑time viewing experience rather than a film that rewards multiple watches.

Plot

Lightyear Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Lightyear from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1995, a boy received a Buzz Lightyear toy inspired by his favorite film. This is the story behind that movie. A human spacecraft ventures in search of habitable planets located 4.3 million light years away from Earth. Upon detecting a potential planet, the craft awakens its commander from cryogenic slumber.

Full summary

The whole story of Lightyear, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Lightyear Box Office & Budget

Lightyear grossed $226.4 million worldwide on a $200 million budget, 1.1 times what it cost. $118.3 million came from the US and Canada and $108.1 million (48%) from the rest of the world.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$226.4M

1.1× its budget

US & Canada
$118.3M
International
$108.1M
Budget
$200M
US & Canada 52% Rest of the world 48%
Awards

Lightyear Awards & Nominations

Lightyear earned 2 award nominations, including Animation at the Artios Awards 2023. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Lightyear Trailers & Videos

30 videos: 5 trailers, 8 teasers, 2 clips, 14 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 30 videos
Teaser Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2
  • Trailer Special Look
  • Trailer Disney+ | Lightyear
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Lightyear?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who voices Captain Buzz Lightyear in the movie?

Details

Lightyear Also Known As

31 alternative titles, including “Баз Светлинна година” and “Buzz Astral”.

Also known as
  • Баз Светлинна година
  • Buzz Astral
  • Buzz Lightyear
  • Lightyear - Cảnh Sát Vũ Trụ
  • Bazs Gaismasgads
  • 光年正傳
  • บัซ ไลท์เยียร์
  • 光年正传
  • Buzz l'Éclair
  • Rakeťák
  • Svjetlosni
  • लाइटईयर
+19 more
  • באז לייטייר
  • バズ・ライトイヤー
  • Lightyear - La vera storia di Buzz
  • Базз Лайтер
  • 버즈 라이트이어
  • Баз Светлосни
  • 巴斯光年
  • Isikyili - Lightyear
  • Bazz Layter, ბაზ ლაითერი, სათამაშოების ისტორია: ბაზ ლაითერი
  • Kozmoblisk
  • Базз Рятівник
  • Işıkyılı
  • שנות-אור
  • Lightyear: Cảnh Sát Vũ Trụ
  • السنة الضوئية, სინათლის წელი
  • باز يطير
  • ലൈറ്റ്ഇയർ
  • Šviesmetis
  • لایت‌یر

Seen Lightyear?

FAQ

Lightyear FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Lightyear, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Lightyear?

Lightyear runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was Lightyear released?

Lightyear was released on June 17, 2022.

Who is in the cast of Lightyear?

Lightyear stars Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear, James Brolin as Zurg and Mary McDonald-Lewis as I.V.A.N., among 7 credited actors.

Where can I watch Lightyear?

In the US, Lightyear is streaming on Disney Plus and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Lightyear make at the box office?

Lightyear grossed $226.4 million worldwide ($118.3 million domestic, $108.1 million international) on a budget of $200 million.

How is Lightyear rated?

Lightyear has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 60 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Was Lightyear nominated for any awards?

Lightyear received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Lightyear have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Lightyear has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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