Here’s a shocking fact: even the most catastrophic box office failure in cinematic history managed to rake in twice as much as Disney’s Tron: Ares. But here’s where it gets controversial—could this be the final blow for the Tron franchise? Let’s dive in.
After a month in theaters, Tron: Ares is teetering on the edge of falling short of the $150 million global box office mark. Despite mixed reviews, the film’s commercial performance has been nothing short of underwhelming. To put it in perspective, its 2010 predecessor, Tron: Legacy, grossed around $100 million more domestically—and it was still considered a letdown. Yet, Legacy went on to build a cult following over the years, likely encouraging Disney to greenlight a sequel. And this is the part most people miss—Ares is a standalone sequel, lacking the creative vision of Legacy’s director, Joseph Kosinski, and the iconic soundtrack by Daft Punk, which played a huge role in Legacy’s post-release popularity.
With a worldwide gross of just $139 million, Ares has struggled since its debut. Directed by Joachim Rønning and starring Jared Leto, the film reportedly cost $220 million to produce, potentially losing Disney up to $130 million. But here’s the twist: this pales in comparison to the staggering $260 million loss Disney faced with 2012’s John Carter. Directed by Andrew Stanton and starring Taylor Kitsch, John Carter was marketed as the inspiration behind franchises like Avatar and Star Wars. Yet, it became the biggest box office flop in history, part of a disastrous streak for Disney that included duds like Mars Needs Moms, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Tomorrowland.
Despite its failures, John Carter still managed to gross over $280 million globally—double Ares’ current earnings. Disney’s 2025 hasn’t been stellar, with underperformers like Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Snow White, and Elio. However, the studio scored big with the billion-dollar Lilo & Stitch live-action remake and has high hopes for Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash. Ares, meanwhile, sits at a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes, earning praise for its Nine Inch Nails score and Jeff Cronenweth’s cinematography.
Now, here’s the question that’ll spark debate: Is Tron: Ares the final nail in the franchise’s coffin, or is there still hope for a digital revival? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Catch Tron: Ares in theaters now, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Release Date: October 8, 2025
Runtime: 119 minutes
Director: Joachim Rønning
Writers: Jesse Wigutow, Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird, Joachim Rønning, David DiGilio
Producers: Jared Leto, Jeffrey Silver, Sean Bailey, Steven Lisberger, Emma Ludbrook, Justin Springer
Cast: Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Eve Kim
