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Credit:DisneyLooks like it could be “end of line” for Disney’s Tron franchise.
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Things are not looking good for Tron: Ares. Disney’s latest venture into the grid came in well below expectations, both critically and commercially, with the internet and pop culture already deeming the film a certified box office flop.
In total, Tron: Ares has grossed a little over $60 million since its release earlier in October, a very troubling number compared to its estimated budget of $180 million.
The Tron franchise has never been a bankable winner for Disney anyway, with the previous two installments also suffering a similar fate. The original Tron (1982) was panned by critics but managed to scoop up a respectable $50 million at the box office.
Over the years, the original Tron became a cult classic, spawning toy lines, video games, and eventually a proper sequel: Tron: Legacy (2010). A similar story to the original, Tron Legacy proved to be a visual treat, but one that not many people actually showed up for on release. A box office gross of $400+ million certainly sounds a lot better, but on a budget of $170 million, Disney was hoping to get Pirates of the Caribbean-level numbers and instead got a moderately successful sci-fi epic.
Just like its older sibling, Legacy managed to carve out its own spot in pop culture, becoming a cult-classic in its own right. Legacy is likely the most recognizable film in the franchise currently, and it’s where Disney has pulled the most toys, and assets from.
Guests visiting Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World can step inside the grid for a spin on TRON: Lightcycle / Run, an exhilarating, neon-lit roller coaster.
However, reports claim some of the pitfalls Tron: Ares is facing may fall on the shoulders of Ares himself, Jared Leto. Leto portrays the digital character come-to-life in the film, something analysts are viewing as a mistake now that the film has released.
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, an agency partner previously stepped away from Jared Leto following the actor’s lead role in Sony’s Morbius (2022). Despite being tied, albeit loosely, to the Spider-Man canon, Morbius debuted to dismal numbers and was torn apart critically.
“In a world where Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, and Benedict Cumberbatch are having a hard time getting lead roles, why would you even go to a person who can’t open a movie and who has question marks around him as a person?” posed one talent manager partner.
There’s a debate about who could have “saved” Tron: Ares and whether Disney made a smart decision casting Jared Leto for the role in the first place. Leto served as not only the lead star but also the producer of the film. Still, Tron: Ares‘ disappointing performance isn’t totally being blamed on him.
“You could have had Ryan Gosling, it wasn’t going to work,” said another agency partner. “No one asked for this reboot. If you say, ‘Tron: Ares is good, we just needed a different actor,’ you’re deluding yourself.”
Tron: Ares isn’t the first struggle Disney has faced at the box office in recent years, a problem not just exclusive to sequels. Disney has tried its hand at introducing original characters and stories, only to be met with critical and financial duds.
Pixar’s Lightyear failed to launch in 2022, as did Strange World. Disney also stumbled when it returned to the Indiana Jones franchise in 2023 with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Disney has had a few winners recently, namely with 2024’s Moana 2 and, of course, this summer’s Lilo & Stitch. But there’s never been a more concerning time to be a Tron fan.
Have you seen Tron: Ares? What do you think about the film?