The Rise and Fall of Tron: Ares
While Disney has had a successful year in 2025, with the potential to become the top-earning distributor, not every project has been a hit. The release of Tron: Ares, the third film in the Tron series, has been a major disappointment for the company. Despite its high-profile cast and creative team, the film is expected to result in losses of nearly $130 million.
By the Numbers and Compared to Legacy
As of now, Tron: Ares has grossed $142 million worldwide, with $73 million from domestic markets and $68 million internationally. This is unusual for a Disney film, as it has earned more in the U.S. than abroad. However, this does not reflect well on the film’s appeal. In comparison, Tron: Legacy, released 15 years ago, earned $400 million globally ($172 million domestically and $228 million internationally). Although Legacy was considered a financial disappointment due to lower-than-expected returns, it still outperformed Ares in both box office earnings and audience reception.
Critics were not impressed with Tron: Ares, giving it a 53% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the film received an 83% user score, suggesting that audiences enjoyed it overall. Interestingly, Tron: Legacy had even worse critical reviews, with only 51% of critics giving it a positive rating and 64% of users liking it.
The fact that Tron: Ares could not match or exceed the box office numbers of Legacy, despite higher ticket prices, indicates a lack of audience interest. While the moviegoing experience has evolved since 2010, many other films in 2025 have shown that there is still a strong demand for theatrical releases. For example, Lilo & Stitch has become the highest-grossing film of the year, with the only domestic-produced movie to cross the $1 billion mark.
One of the most surprising aspects of Tron: Ares is that it couldn’t even beat Morbius at the box office. While Morbius benefited from its Spider-Man connection and memes, Tron: Ares didn’t face the same negative buzz, yet it still underperformed.
What Went Wrong with Tron: Ares?
Promoting the Film with Jeff Bridges
Even before its release, Tron: Ares seemed destined for disappointment, with very little buzz surrounding it. When the first footage debuted at D23 2024, the excitement centered around two key elements: Jeff Bridges and the musical duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Bridges has been a central figure in the Tron series since the beginning, first as the star and later reprising his role as Kevin Flynn in Legacy. His appearance in Ares was initially meant to be a surprise, but Disney decided to include him in the marketing efforts, including a Comic-Con appearance.
To match the iconic Daft Punk soundtrack of Tron: Legacy, Disney enlisted Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the Oscar-winning duo behind The Social Network and Gone Girl. They also scored Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic, making their involvement in Ares highly anticipated.
The Conundrum of Jared Leto
Interestingly, neither of these key selling points—Jeff Bridges nor Reznor/Ross—were highlighted in the marketing for Tron: Ares. Instead, the focus was on the visual effects and music. This suggests that Disney may have been trying to downplay the presence of Jared Leto, the film’s star and producer. After the failure of Morbius, which was also led by Leto, it became clear that he wasn’t the blockbuster star Disney hoped for. Tron: Ares once again proved this point, with Leto failing to attract audiences.
Although Leto isn’t solely responsible for the film’s poor performance, there is a general perception that he didn’t bring in viewers and may have even kept them away. Reports about his behavior on set have not helped his case either.
Do People Actually Like Tron That Much?
The Tron name should have been a significant draw, but it seems there is a misunderstanding of the IP’s appeal. The original Tron gained cult status over time, but it didn’t resonate with audiences when it was first released. Tron: Legacy appeared to be a test to see who valued the Tron name, and the response was lukewarm. Releasing another film without any connection to its predecessors, with a new lead and a different vibe, seems like a risky move.
Tron: Ares Is Actually Not That Bad
Despite all the criticism, I found Tron: Ares to be more enjoyable than I expected. Visually, it matches the aesthetic established by Tron: Legacy, with stunning effects that blend the digital world with reality. The score, while different from Legacy, is a clever nod to the original while still being unique. It may not be a great film, but it offers the kind of fun, popcorn-style entertainment one would expect from a Tron adventure.
Regardless of personal opinions, Tron: Ares is a failure for Disney in a year filled with successes. It’s unfortunate because the film contains hints of what could have been an interesting storyline. We’ll just have to wait another 15 years to see what happens next for The Grid.
