Pixar Animation Studios’ Lightyear finally hits theaters on Friday and the studio is projecting some big numbers at the box office, both domestically and globally.
According to Deadline, the current outlook for Lightyear in North America this weekend is $70 million to $85 million amongst 4,200 theaters, which would be on par with past Pixar releases such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Monsters University. This would put the Buzz Lightyear origin pic in the top 10 highest domestic openings for Pixar.
Globally, Lightyear blasts off in 43 material markets, representing 79% of the international footprint. Key markets to watch will be the UK and Mexico, both strong family territories and both of which have been firing lately. The projected debut for all international markets this weekend is in the $50 million range; all-in on the high end, $135 million worldwide. The film has been banned in Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, amongst other middle eastern territories, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia for a brief same-sex scene.
Read: ‘Lightyear’ Review: A Total Blast
A sci-fi action-adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, Lightyear follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.
The film features the voices of Chris Evans as accomplished Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne, and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison, and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston as Young Izzy. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director Finding Dory), produced by Galyn Susman (Toy Story That Time Forgot), and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (The Batman, Up), Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear opens only in theaters on June 17, 2022.
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