10 Reasons Why Lightyear Failed
1. It's A Spin-Off Nobody Asked For
And yet, perhaps the primary reason that Lightyear failed? It's a spin-off that nobody asked for or was particularly interested in even once it was revealed.
Again, a Buzz Lightyear spin-off featuring the real Tim Allen Buzz toy, either within the Toy Story universe or as part of the Star Command franchise that inspired the toys, might've actually gotten fans interested.
But given that Toy Story 4 only came out a few years ago and just barely managed to justify its existence, a tangential movie about a different version of Buzz was always going to be a relatively tough sell.
In a present where media companies are circling their branding wagons and trying to milk their existing IP for every drop, Lightyear should be seen as a cautionary tale. If you drop $200 million on a spin-off from a beloved IP, be absolutely sure it's what people are actually interested in seeing.