Along with the space themes, Lightyear takes its story "to infinity and beyond," with Buzz and Alisha's platonic friendship and time dilation as significant plot points. Other space movies like WALL-E have emulated similar storylines - some inspiring the Pixar film itself. 

First Man (2018)

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In First Man, NASA engineer Neil Armstrong puts his life on the line, undergoing dangerous flight tests before the historic expedition to the moon. While conducting these tests, Neil must also balance his family life, especially as he still copes with his daughter's death. 

While Neil's space flight is nothing compared to Lightyear, no mission is easy. Neil and Buzz face similar challenges with the numerous experimental failures - whether producing a functioning spacecraft or formulating the hyperdrive fuel. Yet, both movies present the humanity in both characters, showing that life is more than work. From Alisha to Neil's friends and family, the people they love are their motivation to keep going regardless of the frustrations. Neil's story is personable, as Ryan Gosling's raw performance depicts the astronaut dealing with loss, grief, and closure.

Wall-E (2008)

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Though  may not be Pixar's best movie, others like WALL-E have near-flawless storytelling. As the last robot on Earth, WALL-E spends his time cleaning up the planet, where he develops a personality along the way. When EVE arrives on Earth to analyze the conditions, WALL-E follows it to embark on an exciting adventure and begin a new friendship. 

While Lightyear sticks to its sci-fi themes, with extraterrestrial beings, robots, and time relativity, WALL-E has a far more meaningful premise that makes it a unique space movie. Considering the film showcases the awful conditions on Earth, it alludes to the warnings regarding climate change. While the space commission couldn't be any more different, both films signify friendship as a key factor in the character's overall arc. WALL-E and EVE's playful relationship parallels Buzz and Alisha's close bond, setting the impetus for their galactic objectives. 

Treasure Planet (2002)

Stream On Disney+

The fun parts of space travel involve intergalactic travel, but Treasure Planet is a rare Disney gem that manages to mesh its space adventures with a treasure hunt. When a young Jim Hawkins comes across a treasure map, he s John Silver to uncover the hidden gold. 

Jim resonates with Buzz Lightyear when their stories end with character growth and maturity from their experiences - Buzz promoted as a space ranger and Jim becoming an interstellar cadet. Considering that Lightyear has received praises for its animation, Treasure Planet is the perfect Disney film that deserves more attention for delivering beautiful, colorful, and stylistic visuals and a fun atmosphere. 

The Martian (2015)

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In The Martian, Mark Watney is stranded on Mars after a storm separates him from his team that escaped. When NASA learns of his survival, he must use what resources are available and utilizes his botany expertise to stay alive until his rescue. 

While most space movies maintain a solemn tone, The Martian brings forth a thrilling yet comedic atmosphere; Mark makes the best of the situation with humor and free-spirited energy - like jamming to David Bowie. It shares similar plot points to Lightyear, with Buzz and Mark stuck on a hostile planet. Both leading characters couldn't be more alike, demonstrating their determination and quick thinking as they adapt to the changing conditions, and their friends are what encourage them to persevere with their dangerous missions. 

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

Stream On Disney+ & Sling

It's well known that A New Hope is the story that started it all, introducing the trio Luke, Leia, and Han as they face the Galactic Empire. 

Via a YouTube interview, Lightyear's director and co-writer Angus MacLane mentioned Star Wars as one of the influential movies that led to creating Buzz's origin story. Though the space opera is narratively different, the small details throughout Lightyear illustrate the references to Star Wars. They include Buzz's spacesuit (node to Luke's pilot suit), the spacecraft design (reminiscing Luke's X-Wing), and Zurg's appearance (similar to Darth Vader). 

Planet 51 (2009)

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Planet 51 features a common sci-fi-fi theme, particularly green aliens. Instead of the extraterrestrial beings coming to Earth, it is an astronaut that lands and explores Planet 51. 

While both movies feature aliens, they are more prominent and portrayed as friendly inhabitants in Planet 51. In contrast, the flying, hostile lifeforms in Lightyear only set the stage for the film's exposition rather than the main villains. Despite the different execution, both films share a similar premise of an astronaut stuck on a planet, embarking on a fun adventure to find a way home, and mimic the themes regarding friendship and bravery. 

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

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In 2001: A Space Odyssey, a mysterious black monolith is a connection between the past and the future, but it is unclear how. Two scientists, Dr. David Bowman and Dr. Frank Poole, are en route to Jupiter to uncover its origins with a HAL 9000 computer or simply "HAL" assisting them. 

Stanley Kubrick's cinematic masterpiece is the landmark movie that changed the space genre and was the inspiration behind Lightyear's art design. Via Variety, set art director Greg Peltz named 2001: A Space Odyssey as the influence in producing the technological visuals in Lightyear. The details are noticeable from Buzz's exploration vessel eerily, similar to Discovery One to the HAL's iconic glowing red lens inspiring Zurg's imagery. 2001: A Space Odyssey conveys a darker tone with a human vs. machine conflict, but its ambiguous ending is what fascinates viewers as it has a deeper meaning behind human evolution. 

The Right Stuff (1983)

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In The Right Stuff, the NASA space program pushes to the limit to go beyond space. With astronauts like John Glenn and Alan Shepard selected for the expedition, things are complicated when they experience failure, dismay, and conflict with their flight tests, which also take a toll on their family lives. 

Just as Buzz tried to formulate the correct hyperdrive fuel in Lightyear's first act, the characters in The Right Stuff also experience a multitude of trial and error before finding success with their tests. Though The Right Stuff presents a historical event on the big screen, it still echoes Lightyear's storytelling features, from the characters' persistence to not giving up and learning to work with their team to easing the tension with unexpected humor. 

Aliens (1986)

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Fifty years after the events in Alien, Ripley wakes up from her hyper-sleep to help a group of marines fight off the reptilian creature she once faced before. While on moon LV-426, they come across a young girl, whom Ripley must protect at all cost. 

Aliens is one of the best sci-fi thrillers and sees Ripley now at war with the evil creatures. Because the aliens play a significant part in Lightyear's exposition, it is no surprise that some footage eerily replicates iconic scenes from Aliens - like the colony outpost. Of course, the Alien sequel produces a horror-esque tone that delivers on chills and scares, but Sigourney Weaver's powerful performance shines throughout with a determined and fearless attitude.

Interstellar (2014)

Stream On Paramount+ & FXNOW

Perhaps, the space movie that mirrors Lightyear's themes and the premise is Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. When Earth slowly becomes inhabitable due to the Dust bowl, the only hope for humans is to relocate to a new planet. NASA pilot Cooper takes the reign on this space mission with a research team, but embarking on this journey means he may not see his family again. 

Interstellar is a cinematic experience with beautiful visuals, Han Zimmer's impeccable score, and a thought-provoking and emotional story about space and time. It also shares many plot devices and storylines with Lightyear, from exploring planets to the leading character's emotional close relationships with their loved ones. Both Cooper and Buzz endure the risk of space travel and experience the effects of time dilation, with their friends and family being the drive for their pursuits.

NEXT: 10 Easter Eggs Redditors Found In Lightyear