I wish I could say that Tron: Ares continued the story right where Tron: Legacy left off in 2010, following the journey of the Flynn family and exploring the intriguing question raised by the film's last scene: What occurs when programs from The Grid appear in the real world? Instead, Tron: Ares appears to be focused not just on disregarding Legacy entirely, but also on misunderstanding what made the original film an icon to begin with.
The Tron franchise is quite fascinating to me. The original film is a true cult classic. It wasn't a failure, nor was it a massive success; it only developed a fanbase later on. Watching it today might feel like a quirky little adventure, but back in 1982, it was revolutionary in many aspects, from its groundbreaking computer graphics to the thought-provoking questions it posed about computers a technology that society was still figuring out at the time.
The sequel, released nearly 30 years later, did a decent job of continuing the story, but now, 15 years after that, it's difficult to understand the reason or audience for yet another Tron film.
Ares is engaged in yet another struggle for dominance over the tech company Encom, with a new Dillinger stepping in as the villain, facing off against Encom's CEO and a fresh addition to the franchise, Eve Kim. Greta Lee portrays Eve effectively, while Evan Peters appears to be relishing his role as Julian Dillinger, really embracing the dramatic moments. The film introduces a spirited ally for Eve (Arturo Castro), a mother figure for Julian (Gillian Anderson), and a crucial object for both to pursue, along with a looming corporate deadline to consider. Overall, the narrative feels quite familiar.
Ares is caught up in another fight for supremacy over the tech giant Encom, featuring a new Dillinger as the antagonist, who is countered by the franchise's latest character, Eve Kim, the CEO of Encom. Greta Lee does a commendable job as Eve, and Evan Peters seems to be thoroughly enjoying his role as Julian Dillinger, really making the most of his scenes. The film also brings in a determined companion for Eve (Arturo Castro), a maternal figure for Julian (Gillian Anderson), and a pivotal object for them to pursue, along with a pressing corporate timeline to keep in mind. The storytelling territory feels quite well-trodden.
Ares is embroiled in yet another conflict for control of the tech firm Encom, with a new Dillinger as the antagonist, opposed by the franchise's new character, Eve Kim, who is the CEO of Encom. Greta Lee shines as Eve, and Evan Peters appears to be having a great time as Julian Dillinger, really enjoying his performance. The film sets up a spirited ally for Eve (Arturo Castro), a mother for Julian (Gillian Anderson), and a significant object for both to pursue, along with a corporate deadline that adds urgency. The narrative ground feels quite familiar.
Can a franchise that's been around for five decades still draw in box office revenue?
The goal for Disney’s sci-fi sequel "Tron: Ares" is to achieve a debut of $45 million to $50 million from 4,000 theaters across North America this weekend.
That’s roughly on par with 2010’s "Tron: Legacy," which opened with $44 million (not adjusted for inflation) and significantly higher than the original 1982 "Tron," which debuted with $4.7 million before gaining cult status.
On the international front, "Tron: Ares" is targeting $40 million to $45 million, potentially bringing the global total to between $85 million and $95 million by Sunday.
While celebrated for its innovative visuals (the original film was among the pioneers in utilizing CGI), "Tron" has not become a massively successful film franchise; the first movie made $50 million worldwide on a $17 million budget, whereas the second film brought in $400 million globally with a $170 million budget. The upcoming third installment is the priciest to date, costing $180 million.