‘Tron: Ares’ Lights Up the Box Office with $60 Million Global Debut
Disney’s “Tron: Ares” rebooted the cult sci-fi franchise in high-tech style this weekend, racing to a No. 1 opening and a $60 million global debut. Backed by Walt Disney Pictures, the long-awaited “Tron” threequel plugged into theaters 15 years after “Tron: Legacy.”
“Tron: Ares” powered up the box office grid with a $33.5 million domestic opening and approximately $60.5 million worldwide in its first frame. The cyber adventure easily claimed the top spot for the weekend, and audiences are responding enthusiastically. The film earned a solid “B+” CinemaScore from opening-night moviegoers and currently boasts an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes – clear indicators that fans are enjoying the ride.
Directed by Joachim Rønning, the 119-minute, PG-13 “Tron” installment expands the digital frontier of the series beyond the Grid. Jared Leto stars as Ares, a cutting-edge program who crosses over from the computer world into ours, alongside Greta Lee as tech visionary Eve Kim and Evan Peters as the scheming heir to ENCOM’s original villain. Jodie Turner-Smith co-stars as Ares’ lethal lieutenant, and franchise icon Jeff Bridges makes a welcome return, reprising his role as Kevin Flynn. The film also features a pulse-pounding original score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails, which injects electrifying energy into every scene.
“’TRON: Ares’ lives up to the hype.” MovieWeb
At its core, “Tron: Ares” is a feast for the senses that doubles as a love letter to the “Tron” legacy. The movie builds on the franchise’s signature neon-lit style – from high-speed Light Cycle chases to futuristic cityscapes – while weaving in plenty of action and nostalgia for longtime fans. It also explores timely themes of technology and humanity: Ares, the first program to enter the real world, grapples with free will and a purpose beyond his code. The result is a thrilling blend of cutting-edge spectacle and unexpected heart, as the digital warrior’s journey reflects on human creativity and the quest for connection.
The film’s success isn’t just commercial – critics and audiences are buzzing about “Tron: Ares’” audiovisual achievements. RogerEbert.com awarded the sequel a four-star rave, calling it “spectacularly designed, swiftly paced, thoughtfully written” and urging viewers to see it on the biggest screen possible. The Daily Beast echoed that enthusiasm, noting that “there’s something refreshing about a movie that puts a premium on looking and sounding badass” in today’s blockbuster landscape. Collider also applauded the movie’s legacy appeal, asserting that “Ares proves that the third time is the charm with this series” as it “begins to realize the possibilities of this world created over 40 years ago.”
“Tron: Ares” is playing in theaters now and will be available for licensing from Swank soon.