Tron: Ares claimed the top spot at the U.S. box office over the weekend, earning $33.5 million domestically and an estimated $27 million overseas, bringing its global debut to $60.5 million. While the film landed in first place, the result fell short of industry forecasts that had predicted a domestic opening between $45 million and $50 million.
The film is Disney’s third entry in the Tron franchise, following 1982’s Tron and 2010’s Tron: Legacy. It stars Jared Leto, Evan Peters, and Greta Lee, and was directed by Joachim Rønning, who previously helmed Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
According to Comscore, the film’s production budget is estimated between $150 million and $180 million, not including global marketing and promotional costs that could push total expenses past $300 million. Analysts say the movie will need a strong international run to reach profitability.
Critics have been divided on Tron: Ares. Many praise its visual achievements, calling the film “technically dazzling” and “a showcase for next-generation CGI.” Others criticize the story for lacking emotional weight and relying too heavily on nostalgia from earlier installments.
The film currently holds a 62 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a B+ CinemaScore from opening-night audiences, suggesting casual moviegoers responded more positively than reviewers.
Comparison to Tron: Legacy
The previous film in the franchise, Tron: Legacy, opened to $44 million domestically in 2010 and earned just over $400 million worldwide. Despite that success, Disney waited more than a decade to greenlight another sequel, in part due to high production costs and uncertainty about audience demand for another Tron story.
Tron: Ares introduces new technology concepts within its universe, blending physical and digital environments through a storyline centered on corporate warfare, artificial intelligence, and the boundaries of human consciousness.
Releasing in mid-October placed Ares in a quiet box office window with minimal competition. The next closest performer was the thriller Roofman with $8 million, followed by One Battle After Another at $6.6 million. Family film Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie and the music drama Soul on Fire rounded out the top five.
Industry insiders note that early fall is rarely prime territory for science fiction releases, which often rely on summer or holiday audiences. Disney’s strategy was to avoid competing directly with Joker: Folie à Deux and Moana 2, but this weekend’s softer-than-expected turnout suggests the gamble may not have paid off.
The next several weeks will be crucial for Tron: Ares. Strong overseas performance, especially in markets such as China, Japan, and the United Kingdom, could help offset its slow U.S. start. Analysts also point to streaming revenue and merchandise sales as possible sources of recovery.
Disney has not commented on whether a fourth Tron film is in development, but insiders suggest the company will evaluate the film’s total gross before making any decisions about continuing the franchise.
