"Tron: Ares" falls far short of expectations – is the cult franchise’s operating system outdated?
The return of the cult Tron franchise was meant to ignite a wave of nostalgia – not least thanks to Jared Leto in the leading role – but ultimately crashed against the audience’s firewall.
The Failed Return of Tron
With Tron: Ares, Disney returned to the digital world of the cult Tron series in 2025. Directed by Joachim Rønning and starring the scandal-ridden Jared Leto, the film was meant to revive the franchise after more than a decade.
Despite an impressive budget of around $180 million and elaborate visual effects, both commercial and critical success have so far failed to materialize. Worldwide, the film earned only about $33 million on its debut – a disappointing result for a production of this scale.
Out of Cult Status?
Critics mainly point to a weak script and a shallow plot that offers little emotional depth or innovation. While the visual design and soundtrack receive praise, the story is considered predictable, and the characters lack depth. Jared Leto’s performance in particular has drawn mixed reactions – charismatic to some, forced and distant to others.
On top of that, Tron: Ares seems torn between nostalgia and modernity. Its attempt to blend the style of the original films with contemporary science fiction feels unbalanced to many viewers. The marketing campaign also failed to distinguish the movie from the shadow of its predecessors. Initially high expectations were quickly deflated by mixed reviews and weak word of mouth.
It’s Morbin’ Time – Again…
This reminds many of the notorious flop Morbius from three years ago. When Jared Leto took on the role of Marvel’s vampire antihero, that too went badly – grossing just around $80 million worldwide in its first week.
The film sparked a wave of memes, and “fans” famously convinced Sony to re-release Morbius after it had already disappeared from theaters – only for audiences to ignore it once again.
Whether Jared Leto alone is to blame for these failures is doubtful. Ultimately, Tron: Ares stands as a visually striking but narratively weak chapter in the Tron saga – an example of how difficult it is to successfully reboot legacy franchises for the modern blockbuster era.