Tron: Ares Races Past Box Office Woes on Disney+

Decades after the original cult classic, a new chapter in the Tron saga finally made its way to cinemas last year. The anticipation was palpable, but the reality at the box office was rather less so. Despite a flurry of excitement among long-time fans, the film’s theatrical run was, to put it mildly, underwhelming. Yet, in a twist that few could have predicted, the digital world has offered Tron: Ares a second wind, with the film now sitting comfortably at the summit of Disney+ viewership both in Britain and across the globe.

Joachim Rønning, best known for his work on the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, took the director’s chair, while the script came courtesy of Jesse Wigutow and Jack Thorne. The story returns viewers to the neon-lit expanse of The Grid, picking up threads left dangling since the 1982 original and its 2010 successor. Jared Leto steps into the lead as Ares, a digital programme who, in a rather bold move, escapes the confines of his pixelated universe to embark on a perilous mission in the real world.

Streaming Triumph After Cinematic Setback

Since its arrival on Disney+ just a week ago, Tron: Ares has shot straight to the top of the platform’s rankings. This sudden surge suggests that, contrary to the doom-laden predictions following its cinema release, there’s still a healthy appetite for the franchise. The numbers at the box office, however, painted a rather different picture. With a global take of only $142 million against a production budget rumoured to be somewhere between $180 and $220 million, the film quickly earned the dubious distinction of being Disney’s lowest-grossing release of 2025.

Critical reception was, to put it charitably, mixed. While some reviewers were taken in by the film’s “sensory feast of vivid neon hues and a hypnotic soundtrack,” many found the plot less than compelling, resulting in a less-than-stellar 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, on the other hand, seemed far more forgiving, awarding the film an 84% on the Popcornmeter and praising “its colourful visual effects to Nine Inch Nails' rollicking beats.” The consensus, if there was one, seemed to be that the film looked and sounded fantastic, even if the story left a bit to be desired.

Cast, Characters, and the Future of The Grid

Whether this newfound streaming success will be enough to convince Disney to greenlight another sequel remains to be seen. Stranger things have happened, especially as streaming numbers increasingly drive studio decisions. For now, though, the future of the franchise hangs in the balance, with no official word on whether viewers will be returning to The Grid any time soon.

The cast assembled for this outing is nothing if not impressive. Alongside Leto, the film features Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Cameron Monaghan, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Gillian Anderson, Sarah Desjardins, and, in a nod to the series’ roots, Jeff Bridges himself.

Synopsis and a Glimpse Inside The Grid

For those curious about the plot, the official synopsis reads:

"TRON: Ares" follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I. beings.

With its dazzling visuals, eclectic cast, and a soundtrack that’s already winning fans, Tron: Ares may yet prove that there’s life in the old franchise. For now, it’s enjoying a rather unexpected renaissance on the small screen.