The highly anticipated sequel, Tron: Ares, has unfortunately kicked off its global box office run with a rather dismal performance, leading to serious doubts about the franchise’s revitalization.
Domestically, the film managed to pull in a mere $33.5 million, with its international figures proving even weaker at $27 million. This combined global opening of $60.5 million falls significantly short of what was projected for Disney’s ambitious sci-fi entry.
This latest installment, featuring a star-studded cast including Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Jeff Bridges, and Gillian Anderson, was intended to breathe new life into the Tron series, fifteen years after its predecessor, and pave the way for numerous sequels. However, these ambitious plans now hang in the balance. Without a dramatic turnaround in the coming weeks, Disney is facing a substantial financial loss on the film’s theatrical release, especially considering its hefty $180 million production budget, which doesn’t even account for marketing.
To fully grasp the scope of this underperformance, let’s look at some comparisons. Tron: Legacy, released in 2010, opened with a stronger $44 million domestically (without inflation adjustment) and ultimately earned $409.9 million worldwide. Even more strikingly, Tron: Ares falls short of Jared Leto’s critically panned 2022 Marvel-adjacent film, Morbius, which managed a $39 million domestic debut and a global total of $167.4 million. It’s highly improbable that Tron: Ares will reach the overall box office totals of either of these films, though its upcoming release in China next weekend could provide a small boost.
Critics haven’t been kind either; our own review gave Tron: Ares a 5/10, stating, “Tron: Ares somehow forgets where it came from and relentlessly revisits the original, only making the latest version of the Grid paler by comparison.” For those curious about the narrative direction, we also published a feature explaining the film’s ending and post-credits scene, outlining how it attempts to set up a potential Tron 4.
Tron: Ares isn’t the only film struggling at the moment. Paramount’s “Roofman,” featuring Channing Tatum, also opened to a disappointing $8 million. Jennifer Lopez’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman” fared even worse, generating a meager $918,775 domestically, firmly placing it in flop territory.
Adding to the list of box office woes, Dwayne Johnson’s “The Smashing Machine,” which already struggled on its opening weekend, is now unequivocally considered a disaster. Its North American revenue plummeted by a staggering 69%, bringing in only $1.7 million, pushing its total earnings to just $10.1 million against a reported production cost of $50 million.
In contrast, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” has reached $138 million worldwide. While its ultimate box office fate remains to be seen, consistent performance could potentially lead to a more favorable outcome for the Leonardo DiCaprio action film in the long run.
This report was provided by Wesley Yin-Poole, Director of News at IGN.