# Tron: Ares
**Tron: Ares** is a 2025 American science fiction action film, the third entry in Disney's Tron franchise after *[Tron](https://www.edgepedia.org/tron-franchise)* (1982) and *Tron: Legacy* (2010). Directed by [Joachim Rønning](https://www.edgepedia.org/joachim-r-nning) from a screenplay by Jesse Wigutow and a story by Wigutow and David DiGilio, it stars [Jared Leto](https://www.edgepedia.org/jared-leto) as Ares, a highly sophisticated artificial intelligence program sent from the digital Grid into the real world on a dangerous mission, in what the film presents as humankind's first encounter with AI beings.[1](https://lsf.go.id/film/tron-ares/601) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6604188/fullcredits/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tron_ares)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | October 10, 2025 (United States, wide and IMAX); 119 minutes; rated PG-13 for violence/action[4](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tron-Ares-%282025%29) |
| Director and writers | Joachim Rønning; screenplay by Jesse Wigutow, story by Wigutow and David DiGilio, based on characters created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6604188/fullcredits/) |
| Lead cast | Jared Leto (Ares), Greta Lee (Eve Kim), Jeff Bridges (Kevin Flynn), Evan Peters (Julian Dillinger), Jodie Turner-Smith (Athena), Gillian Anderson (Elisabeth Dillinger)[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6604188/fullcredits/) |
| Music | Original score by Nine Inch Nails[5](https://apnews.com/article/f8ee945d3d835a618ade38e2621777c7) |
| Box office | $33.5 million opening weekend; $142,249,983 worldwide against a reported production budget of $180 million[4](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tron-Ares-%282025%29) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/17613fbf5f504624c44d76d1a8f2cf04) |
| Critical reception | 52% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (272 reviews) against an 83% audience score; Metascore 48 on Metacritic[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tron_ares) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tron-ares/critic-reviews/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and cast
The story follows Ares, a militarized Master Control Program created by Julian Dillinger ([Evan Peters](https://www.edgepedia.org/evan-peters)), the grandson of the original film's villain, who rebels against his creator and seeks the Permanence Code that would allow him a lasting existence in the real world.[8](https://www.ilm.com/tron-ares-ilm-sydney-visual-effects-capogreco-alvarado-interview/) In the film's 2025 setting, the technology companies ENCOM and Dillinger Systems race to bring digital constructs into physical reality using laser-based 3D printers, but each printed creation lasts only 29 minutes before collapsing into ash.[9](https://tron.fandom.com/wiki/TRON%3A_Ares) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/17613fbf5f504624c44d76d1a8f2cf04) [Dillinger](https://www.edgepedia.org/dillinger) uses Ares to wage war on his business rival Eve Kim ([Greta Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/greta-lee)).[10](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/10/tron-ares-movie-review/684531/)
[Jeff Bridges](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-bridges) returns as Kevin Flynn, the protagonist of the 1982 original, and the supporting cast includes [Hasan Minhaj](https://www.edgepedia.org/hasan-minhaj) as Ajay Singh and Arturo Castro as Seth Flores.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6604188/fullcredits/) Leto also served as one of the film's producers and described the role as a difficult challenge because his character, a Program, has no backstory.[11](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/sci-fi-movies/self-proclaimed-immersive-actor-jared-leto-opens-up-on-the-difficult-challenge-of-playing-a-program-with-no-backstory-in-new-sci-fi-sequel-tron-ares/) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tron-ares/critic-reviews/)
### Place in the franchise
Unlike its predecessors, which took humans into the computer, *Tron: Ares* reverses the premise and brings programs, light cycles, and other Grid technology onto real streets, a shift the filmmakers framed as the franchise's way of staying relevant as real-world AI advanced during the film's development.[5](https://apnews.com/article/f8ee945d3d835a618ade38e2621777c7) • [23](https://bleedingcool.com/movies/tron-ares-writer-on-franchise-evolution-creative-continuity-more/) The screenplay references *Frankenstein* and *Pinocchio* in its treatment of an artificial being seeking humanity, and critics noted the film functions as a legacy sequel, incorporating plot points and characters from both earlier films while setting up possible future installments.[24](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/reviews/tron-ares-review-28641/) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tron-ares/critic-reviews/)
## Production
The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, with shooting scheduled to begin in January 2024.[12](https://www.productionlist.com/production/tron-ares) Its path to the screen was long: development had been underway since 2010, [Garth Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/garth-davis) was originally set to direct but stepped down in 2020 and was replaced by Rønning, and filming was delayed in 2023 by the [SAG-AFTRA](https://www.edgepedia.org/sag-aftra) strike.[13](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/tron-ares-release-date-cast-plot-trailer/) Rønning, whose earlier films include *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales* (2017) and *Maleficent: Mistress of Evil* (2019), said he was drawn to the twist of bringing the Grid into the real world rather than sending humans into the computer.[1](https://lsf.go.id/film/tron-ares/601) • [5](https://apnews.com/article/f8ee945d3d835a618ade38e2621777c7)
**Visual effects.** Work was divided primarily between [Industrial Light & Magic](https://www.edgepedia.org/industrial-light-and-magic)'s Vancouver and Sydney studios, with additional contributions from Distillery Visual Effects, Lola Visual Effects, Image Engine, Prologue, GMUNK, Imaginary Forces, and OPSIS.[14](https://www.ilm.com/tron-ares-david-seager-interview-ilm-vfx/) Because the film inverts the franchise's usual direction, placing digital entities in physical locations, the production favored practical sets and effects where the Grid meets reality; one noted shot, a light wall slicing a police cruiser in half, combined practical and digital techniques, and the "deresolution" effect, in which digital matter decays into black sand in the real world, was a signature challenge.[15](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/tron_ares_production_notes_final_09-17-25_e1470da0.pdf) • [14](https://www.ilm.com/tron-ares-david-seager-interview-ilm-vfx/) • [8](https://www.ilm.com/tron-ares-ilm-sydney-visual-effects-capogreco-alvarado-interview/)
## Music
The score is by [Nine Inch Nails](https://www.edgepedia.org/nine-inch-nails), replacing [Daft Punk](https://www.edgepedia.org/daft-punk), who scored *Tron: Legacy*. Footage shown at [San Diego Comic-Con](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-comic-con) in July 2025 paired a real-world light cycle chase with the band's propulsive soundtrack, and reviewers consistently singled the music out as a highlight of the finished film.[5](https://apnews.com/article/f8ee945d3d835a618ade38e2621777c7) • [16](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/tron-ares-first-reviews/) The screenplay also makes Ares a fan of 1980s synth pop, particularly Depeche Mode, a callback to the music current when the original film was released.[17](https://epaper.gorkhapatraonline.com/uploads/file/2025/10/risingnepal/2025-10-11-11-59-29-trn-12oct-1.pdf)
## Reception and box office
**Critical response was mixed.** On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 52% Tomatometer from 272 reviews against an 83% audience score from more than 5,000 verified ratings, a gap of over 30 percentage points that is far wider than those of the earlier entries (8% for *Tron*, 13% for *Tron: Legacy*).[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tron_ares) • [18](https://thedirect.com/article/tron-ares-audience-reviews-opposite-critic) The critics consensus calls it "gorgeous to behold but too narratively programmatic to achieve an authentically human dimension."[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tron_ares) Metacritic recorded a Metascore of 48 from 49 critics, with 29% positive, 53% mixed, and 18% negative reviews.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tron-ares/critic-reviews/) Reviewers praised the visuals, sound design, and Nine Inch Nails score while criticizing the plot; Matt Zoller Seitz at RogerEbert.com scored it 100, calling it "spectacularly designed, swiftly paced, thoughtfully written," while The Independent's one-star review called it the "worst film of the year."[19](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tron-ares-movie-review-2025) • [20](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/disney-jared-leto-tron-ares-review-b2841402.html)
**Box office fell short.** The film opened at number one in North America with $33.5 million against a reported production budget of around $150 million per early reports, or $180 million per The Numbers and $220 million per [Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo), and dropped 67% in its second weekend.[6](https://apnews.com/article/17613fbf5f504624c44d76d1a8f2cf04) • [4](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tron-Ares-%282025%29) • [21](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt6604188/) Its final worldwide gross of $142,249,983, split $73.2 million domestic and $69.1 million international, was about 0.8 times its listed production budget.[4](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tron-Ares-%282025%29) The opening compared unfavorably with *Tron: Legacy*, which opened to $44 million in 2010 and grossed more than $400 million globally.[6](https://apnews.com/article/17613fbf5f504624c44d76d1a8f2cf04) The film later became available to stream on Disney+ and to buy or rent on digital storefronts, with a home video release on December 2, 2025.[22](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/tron-ares) • [4](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tron-Ares-%282025%29)
## References
1. [Panduan Film: Tron: Ares, Lembaga Sensor Film Indonesia](https://lsf.go.id/film/tron-ares/601)
2. [Tron: Ares (2025) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6604188/fullcredits/)
3. [TRON: Ares, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tron_ares)
4. [Tron: Ares (2025), The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tron-Ares-%282025%29)
5. ['Tron: Ares' brings the Grid, light cycles and Nine Inch Nails soundtrack to Comic-Con, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/f8ee945d3d835a618ade38e2621777c7)
6. ['Tron: Ares' tops box office but falls short of expectations with $33.5 million debut, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/17613fbf5f504624c44d76d1a8f2cf04)
7. [TRON: Ares critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tron-ares/critic-reviews/)
8. [Into the Grid of Tron: Ares with ILM's Sydney Crew, ILM](https://www.ilm.com/tron-ares-ilm-sydney-visual-effects-capogreco-alvarado-interview/)
9. [TRON: Ares, Tron Wiki](https://tron.fandom.com/wiki/TRON%3A_Ares)
10. [The Movie That Doesn't Belong in the Real World, The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/10/tron-ares-movie-review/684531/)
11. [Jared Leto on playing a Program with no backstory, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/sci-fi-movies/self-proclaimed-immersive-actor-jared-leto-opens-up-on-the-difficult-challenge-of-playing-a-program-with-no-backstory-in-new-sci-fi-sequel-tron-ares/)
12. [Tron: Ares (aka Velcro), Production List](https://www.productionlist.com/production/tron-ares)
13. [Tron: Ares reviews, release date, cast, plot, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/tron-ares-release-date-cast-plot-trailer/)
14. [ILM's David Seager Talks VFX of Tron: Ares, ILM](https://www.ilm.com/tron-ares-david-seager-interview-ilm-vfx/)
15. [TRON: Ares production notes (September 17, 2025), Disney](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/tron_ares_production_notes_final_09-17-25_e1470da0.pdf)
16. [TRON: Ares First Reviews, Rotten Tomatoes editorial](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/tron-ares-first-reviews/)
17. [The Rising Nepal, October 12, 2025](https://epaper.gorkhapatraonline.com/uploads/file/2025/10/risingnepal/2025-10-11-11-59-29-trn-12oct-1.pdf)
18. [Tron Ares Audience Reviews Are Completely Opposite Critic Scores, The Direct](https://thedirect.com/article/tron-ares-audience-reviews-opposite-critic)
19. [TRON: Ares movie review, RogerEbert.com](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tron-ares-movie-review-2025)
20. [Tron: Ares review, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/disney-jared-leto-tron-ares-review-b2841402.html)
21. [Tron: Ares (2025), Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt6604188/)
22. [TRON: Ares streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/tron-ares)
23. [Tron: Ares Writer on Franchise Evolution, Creative Continuity & More, Bleeding Cool](https://bleedingcool.com/movies/tron-ares-writer-on-franchise-evolution-creative-continuity-more/)
24. ['Tron: Ares': Film Review, Variety](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/reviews/tron-ares-review-28641/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Action, thriller, and crime series film entries › Entries released 2020s and later*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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