Disney’s long-awaited sci-fi sequel Tron: Ares was supposed to light up the box office with its high-tech visuals and futuristic story. But instead of a bang, the film crashed hard on opening weekend. Jared Leto’s movie merely bagged $33.5M in the US and $27M overseas, making just $60.5M worldwide, which is far below expectations, given how it cost around $180M to make (via Box Office Mojo).
Despite flashy trailers, a star-studded cast, and heavy marketing, Tron: Ares failed to attract large crowds to theaters. Many hoped it would revive Disney’s Tron series after more than a decade, but the audience response told a different story. Naturally, people were left wondering what went wrong with such a big franchise comeback. So today, let’s break down exactly why Tron: Ares flopped at the box office.
The table contains basic details on Tron: Ares:
1. Low Critic Score Marred its Impact
One big reason Tron: Ares may have struggled at the box office is its low critic score. The movie received only 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, which means most reviews were mixed or negative. And we all know that when critics don’t fully support a film, it can hurt its image, especially for a franchise that’s already known for dividing opinions.
Now, one might argue that critical success isn’t essential to any blockbuster. But we know how casual moviegoers often rely on reviews and check the critic score before buying tickets. That’s where Tron: Ares’ borderline rating may have made audiences skip it. After all, unlike Marvel or Star Wars, Tron doesn’t have a loyal fanbase to guarantee a strong opening.
So, good word of mouth has been very important. But since it didn’t get that boost, negative or average reviews affected the film’s online buzz, leading to fewer social media posts, fewer repeat viewings, and weaker hype overall. In short, without strong critical support, we believe Tron: Ares failed to convince audiences that it was worth their time.
2. Jared Leto’s Controversies and Recent Flops
Another big reason why Tron: Ares failed to perform well might be Jared Leto himself. While he’s an Oscar-winning actor, Leto has never been a huge box office star. Most of his recent movies, like Morbius
Naturally, when Leto was cast to play Ares in the 2025 Tron movie, many fans were confused about why Disney chose him to lead such a major sci-fi project. Additionally, the actor has also been surrounded by controversies over the years, from stories about his strange “method acting” behavior to accusations of inappropriate conduct, which he has denied.
These issues, although insignificant to most people, may have made some viewers uncomfortable and thus affected the film’s public image. For a franchise like Tron, which already needed a strong comeback, having a polarizing actor as its face didn’t help. So, we believe that instead of excitement, his casting caused skepticism and hesitation, thus affecting the film’s overall performance.
3. Took 15 Years to Release After Tron: Legacy
Additionally, we believe, another possible reason why Tron: Ares flopped, is the long gap between movies. This one came out 15 years after Tron: Legacy, which itself arrived 28 years after the first Tron in 1982. That’s a very long wait for any film series, given how sequels in Hollywood usually come out quickly to keep the hype alive and the audience interested.
So naturally, by the time Tron: Ares was released, many fans of Tron: Legacy had moved on, and younger viewers didn’t really know or care about the franchise. Disney may have thought nostalgia would bring people back, but that didn’t happen. The excitement faded, and new fans weren’t invested enough to show up.
As a result, we believe the movie opened with only $33.5M, which is much lower than Tron: Legacy’s $44M debut (via Box Office Mojo). In short, waiting too long to return to the Grid cost Disney its connection with both old and new audiences.
4. Tron Franchise Doesn’t Boast a Loyal Fanbase
We believe that another significant reason that may have led Tron: Ares to struggle at the box office is that the franchise simply doesn’t have a strong or loyal fanbase anymore. While the first Tron in 1982 was a big deal for its time and became a cult favorite among tech lovers and gamers, its appeal never grew beyond that small group.
Even Tron: Legacy in 2010, despite cool visuals and a great soundtrack, didn’t build a lasting fan following. Turns out, while fans enjoyed it, they didn’t stay deeply connected to the story or characters afterward. Over the years, interest faded, especially as newer sci-fi franchises like Avatar or Dune took over pop culture.
So, by the time Tron: Ares was released, our analysis suggests that the franchise no longer felt exciting or relevant to most audiences. Disney might have hoped nostalgia would bring fans back, but the truth is, there just weren’t enough passionate Tron fans left to make the movie a box-office success.
5. Tron: Ares Marketed as a Reboot Rather Than a Sequel
Lastly, we believe, another significant problem with Tron: Ares may have been how Disney marketed it. Instead of promoting it as a true sequel to Tron: Legacy, they sold it as a “reboot”, a fresh start for new audiences. But that move ended up confusing both old and new fans.
Longtime followers who loved Tron: Legacy expected to see Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) and Quorra (Olivia Wilde) return, continuing the story where it left off. When that didn’t happen, with Jared Leto’s inclusion, many fans lost interest. Meanwhile, newer audiences didn’t know much about the Tron world and didn’t feel connected to it either.
Originally, Disney had plans for a direct sequel with the same cast and director Joseph Kosinski. It was greenlit in 2015 but was canceled after Tomorrowland underperformed. Years later, Tron: Ares emerged with a new cast and direction, but the long delay and lack of familiar faces made it hard for fans to care.
Eventually, by marketing it as a reboot instead of a proper continuation, Disney essentially alienated the small fanbase it already had. The result? Tron: Ares couldn’t pull in loyal fans or win over a new generation, leaving it stuck between two worlds, much like the Grid itself.
Share your opinions on why Tron: Ares is underperforming at the box office.
Tron: Ares is currently running in theaters worldwide.
