Tron: Ares premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, and the first reactions are in! The verdict? Jared Leto’s neon-lit movie is pleasing to the eyes, but critics are divided over whether it’s more than a hollow spectacle, and as a result, it only has a lukewarm 57% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes (as of October 7, 2025).
Leto has stepped into the Tron franchise as Ares and is already fueling conversation about his rocky streak of mediocre projects. Joachim Rønning directs the sci-fi action flick, which stars some amazing actors, including Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Gillian Anderson, and the legendary Jeff Bridges, who has reprised his role as Kevin Flynn.
So, let’s take a closer look at what exactly pundits are saying, and how this movie adds to Leto’s underwhelming record.
Jared Leto’s Tron: Ares Receives Lackluster Reviews and Reactions
Tron: Ares was one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and it looked quite promising from the trailers. Surprisingly, critics have found a lot of flaws in the film, so let’s look at the positives first, followed by all the complaints.
The best part about Tron: Ares is supposedly its visuals and styles, because nearly every reviewer has highlighted how beautiful the movie looks. They also cannot stop raving about the Nine Inch Nails score, which seems to add more character to Tron: Ares.
#TronAres is visually astounding and the NIN tracks go so hard.
The story’s middle portion is pretty thrilling & engaging before it gets a bit bogged with a supporting cast saddled to expositional efforts in the third act.
If you’re going, it’s an IMAX-must! pic.twitter.com/vKvv4KwXLJ
I'm mixed on TRON: ARES. The NIN score rocks, the programs/constructs in the real-world are stunning, and the vehicular combat is cleanly shot. Sadly, sloppy hand-to-hand fights, nostalgic pandering, and The Grid being far blander to look at than it was in LEGACY compromise it. pic.twitter.com/Igg4UhOatn
Tron Ares is visually stunning and has some of the best 3D I’ve seen in a decade (outside of the Avatar films). That said the movie’s plot is extremely dumb, and I just didn’t care about any of the characters. If after that reaction you still want to see it, IMAX 3D is a must. pic.twitter.com/FVSTohmtZz
TRON: ARES is an audio & visual feast. It’s unfortunate that the rest of the film is just okay. A clunky & uneven script leads to awkward humor & repetitive plot points. Greta Lee & Jodie Turner-Smith are standouts. Solid grid action but doesn’t hit the highs of its predecessors. pic.twitter.com/wCOA4iIIHV
There are thrilling action pieces and cinematic moments best enjoyed on the big screen. But all of this wasn’t enough because experts found the feature lacking in emotional depth. Some felt like it was a rehash of Tron: Legacy, while others pointed out how the creatives had forgotten what made Tron special.
Tron: Ares Extends Jared Leto’s Streak of Starring in Underwhelming Films
The mixed reception of Tron: Ares isn’t surprising when you look at Jared Leto’s recent career choices. He was once a revered Oscar-winning actor with a cult-like following, but in the past couple of years, he’s delivered flat-out disappointments.
Here’s an overview of his recent projects:
He’s now more of a meme than an actor, especially after his role in Morbius and his portrayal of the Joker. His off-screen antics and ongoing allegations of misconduct don’t help his image either. So, it would be a surprise if Leto is offered better projects because it looks like he’s almost on the verge of cancellation and irrelevance.
But do you think Leto’s Tron: Ares will do good at the box office and he’ll finally have a comeback?
Tron: Ares is set to release in theaters on October 10, 2025 (USA).
