MovieChat Forums > Lightyear (2022) Discussion > The notion that this flopped because it’...

The notion that this flopped because it’s “woke” is so weird

posted 2 years ago by Crapshoot (150)
9 replies | jump to latest

That entire narrative hinges on the idea that if Uzo Aduba’s character, who isn’t even the focus of the movie, was married to a man instead of a woman, then the movie would’ve performed better at the box office. It’s so ridiculous to me.

The far more likely explanation for why this movie flopped is because no one really asked for a Buzz Lightyear movie that has no connection to Buzz Lightyear the toy, and the concept isn’t really something kids would find exciting. The movie isn’t bright and colorful like animated Disney films usually are, and its premise is basically just Pixar’s Interstellar.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Internet discourse around this film was heavily centered on the controversy of the LGBT scene. That's pretty much all people talked about.

It's 2022 and many people are internet addicted wallies, most people do research on a film before viewing it. They listen to word of mouth, the condemnation of this film for pushing LGBT elements in a family film and the resulting 'internet brigading' against it definitely played a part in it's failings in my opinion.

Yes other aspects were at play also but to downplay the most talked about part of the film is being a tad foolish. Many people around the world are not in favor of LGBT representation in entertainment media and hearing all the hoop-la surrounding this film would have soured them against it.

It's fair to say this film being 'woke' definitely played some part in it's downfall.

[–] Crapshoot (150) 2 years ago

As far as the United States is concerned, I can’t imagine that very many of the people who decided to bitch about the whole gay thing would’ve seen the movie anyway. Weirdos like Ben Shapiro and Steven Crowder call everything they don’t like woke.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

I agree to a certain degree however I think conservative-leaning parents in the US whom get all their news and gossip from the likes of Facebook would have been the sort to decide against taking their young children to see it based on all the discourse.

How many of them there are and how much it damaged the films revenue is impossible to calculate but I do think it played a part.

[–] ebhaynz (3689) 2 years ago

I definitely agree wokeness hurt this film..by not having Tim Allen is a CLEAR SIGN that the people who work in Hollywood are super woke and audiences are lashing out against them.

[–] triplea (3577) 2 years ago

The entire MSM heralded the same sex relationship in this film as if it was the only plot point (when it's not).

The movie has a terribly contrived and predictable storyline that is not in any way exciting to the level a buzz lightyear movie should be, which is the reason for it's failure commercially.

MSM blaming sexism/homophobia and generally labelling the entire world 'bigots' and blaming them for it's commercial failure instead.

Social media retaliating with 'go woke, go broke' etc.

[–] WhereIsRent (1080) 2 years ago

There’s definitely no interest in the film.

Like you said the trailers made it look like Pixar’s Interstellar and as someone who loves Interstellar I went to go and see Lightyear but it’s not exactly something that I think would be popular with families like recent films Top Gun and Jurassic World have been and the new Minions film I’m sure will be.

I think Pixar thought they could have another WALL-E success with the sci-fi genre again but WALL-E had an iconic look and became one of the most beloved characters in Pixar history.

Making a Buzz Lightyear spin-off that wasn’t about the toy was always a bad idea, it’d be the same if it was a Woody film and was an animated western.

[–] Corbell (10995) 2 years ago

It could have worked if they had made an exciting space adventure, with Buzz Lightyear as the main character, good guy.

[–] WhereIsRent (1080) 2 years ago

Yeah maybe, I don’t know, I feel like it’s this year’s Solo: A Star Wars story where it was kind of a spin-off that nobody really asked for.

I still enjoyed the film, I think a 5.3 on IMDB is very harsh, I don’t think it’s as bad as Cars 2 which has a 6.2 rating.

[–] filmschooldegree (350) 2 years ago

Yes, not like it would have still showed in China