I walked out of Tron: Ares feeling weird. Like I'd just watched a gorgeous fever dream that couldn't figure out what to say.
The movie splits people right down the middle. Critics gave it 54% on Rotten Tomatoes. Regular audiences? 87%. That's a massive gap. I'm somewhere in between, honestly.
So was it good? Let's talk about it.
What's This Movie Even About?
The setup is pretty simple. It's 2025. For the first time ever, a program leaves the digital Grid to enter our world. That program is Ares, played by Jared Leto. He's basically a smart AI on a mission.
His target? Something called the "Permanence Code." Kevin Flynn created this tech that lets digital beings exist in the real world forever. Two tech companies want it badly. ENCOM (run by Greta Lee's Eve Kim) and Dillinger Systems (led by Evan Peters' Julian Dillinger). Corporate spying meets AI having an identity crisis.
It's kind of like Pinocchio, but instead of a wooden puppet, you've got an AI wanting to understand what being human means. The idea sounds cool. The way they did it? Not so much.
The Great Divide: Why Critics and Audiences Can't Agree
That 33-point split is huge. One of the biggest I've seen lately.
Critics call it "gorgeous to behold but too narratively programmatic." Translation: pretty but empty. The critical take says it's a feast for your eyes but lacks heart. Meanwhile, regular moviegoers love it. They're all about the visuals, the music, the overall feel.
Who's right? Both, actually.
What Works: The Stuff That'll Make Your Jaw Drop
The Visuals Are Nuts
If there's one reason to see this movie, it's how it looks. Over 2,000 visual effects shots from Industrial Light & Magic. And get this: they didn't use AI to make any of it. A movie about AI that refused to use AI for the effects. That's kind of funny when you think about it.
Director Joachim Rønning got creative. He used robotic camera arms for the Grid scenes. "I like the idea of like a computer filming Ares, who is also a program," he said. Everything feels precise. Controlled. Almost mechanical. Which fits perfectly for a digital world.
The best part? Watching the Grid bleed into our reality. Light cycles tearing through city streets. Laser-thin trails slicing cars like butter. It's wild. About 67% of opening weekend viewers saw it in IMAX or premium format. Smart choice.
Nine Inch Nails Basically Saved This Movie
Can we talk about the music? Because holy hell.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross created the score as Nine Inch Nails. First time they've used the band name on a film. It's 70 minutes of industrial, pulsing sound. Sometimes uncomfortable. Always fitting.
This isn't Daft Punk's style from Tron: Legacy. No orchestra here. Just raw, grinding electronic music that matches the film's darker tone. Everyone agrees on this part. The score might actually be better than the movie. It's "precise and unpleasant at times" in the best way. Creates mood even when the story stumbles.
It's Surprisingly Hopeful About AI
Most AI movies scream "robots will destroy us all." Not this one.
Director Rønning told RTE: "Done the right way, AI can help advance humanity. It can be good. That's my hope."
The film flips the usual script. Ares becomes more virtuous as he breaks his programming. Whether that's naive or refreshing depends on your view. At least it's different.
What Doesn't Work: The Problems You Can't Ignore
Jared Leto Feels Wrong
Here's the hard truth. Leto's performance doesn't land. His character should be learning humanity. But he feels human rights from the start. He delivers cold logic with emotional doubt too early. There's no real change to watch.
Screen Rant puts it well: He can't capture a machine learning to be human. The performance is stiff when it should be curious. Flat when it should be awakening.
The Story Hits Every Expected Beat
If you've seen any sci-fi movie about AI discovering itself, you've seen this plot. Every beat feels expected. Nothing surprises you. Variety calls it "too narratively programmatic." Yeah, that fits.
Supporting actors do better. Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena brings real weight to her role. Greta Lee adds depth as Eve Kim. But the main story? It's paint-by-numbers.
It Messes With Legacy's Story
Long-time fans noticed some weird changes to the Flynn Grid. How it looks. How people access it. These aren't huge problems. But they're annoying if you care about continuity.
Is Tron: Ares Worth Seeing in 3D or IMAX?
Yes. Absolutely.
If you're going to watch this, watch it big. The 3D actually works. Not just stuff flying at your face. The Grid scenes, the light cycles, the way digital and physical worlds mix. All of it needs the big screen.
IMAX is even better. The scale. The sound design. Feeling that Nine Inch Nails score in your chest. It's the kind of thing that justifies leaving your couch. Watch it at home on your TV? You lose half of what makes it worthwhile.
How's It Doing at the Box Office?
Not well, to be honest.
Tron: Ares opened with $33.5 million at home and $60.5 million globally. Way below the $40-45 million they expected. The production budget was $180 million. Those numbers are rough.
The Hollywood Reporter called it disappointing. They're right. The question now is whether word of mouth helps. That 87% audience score might give it legs. Or it might just fade fast.
Does Tron Come Back in Tron: Ares?
The Tron character is more symbol than actual person here. Jeff Bridges returns as Kevin Flynn as a guide. He helps Ares understand his desire for permanence. But it's not a big role. If you want major screen time from old characters, lower your hopes.
Will Sam Flynn Appear in Tron: Ares?
The film sets up future movies. Ares plans to find Sam Flynn and Quorra from Legacy. But in this one? They're gone. It's about new people and a new story. That's both fresh and a little sad for fans who wanted more connections.
Is Tron: Ares a Sequel to Legacy?
Yes. It's set years after Tron: Legacy. Same universe. References to past events. But the connections are loose. It's telling its own story with mostly new faces.
Rating: Is Tron: Ares a Good Movie?
My take: 6.5/10
Tron: Ares looks beautiful but feels empty. Roger Ebert's site gave it four stars. Called it "spectacularly designed, swiftly paced, thoughtfully written." I can't agree with that much praise.
See it if you:
- Love stunning visuals and want a real theater experience
- Are a Nine Inch Nails fan (the soundtrack is incredible)
- Want sci-fi that's more hopeful about AI
- Enjoyed Tron: Legacy and want more Grid stuff
Skip it if you:
- Need strong characters and real emotion
- Can't stand predictable stories
- Aren't planning to see it on a big screen (just wait for streaming)
- Were hoping for something as good as Tron: Legacy
The Verdict: A Gorgeous Mess Worth Seeing Once
Look, Tron: Legacy is probably better when it comes to story and characters. But Ares tries something new. It brings the Grid into our world for the first time.
This movie works better as a vibe than a story. You won't leave quoting lines or thinking deeply about the characters. But you might leave humming that Nine Inch Nails score. Replaying those light cycle scenes in your head. Appreciating the technical skill on display.
Is it a great film? No. Is it a great experience? If you see it right, yeah. Kind of.
The series has room to grow. Assuming the box office doesn't kill sequel plans. There's potential buried under the weak story. Maybe that fits for a movie about an AI learning to be more than its code. Tron: Ares hasn't quite figured out what it wants to be yet.
Final rating: 6.5/10. Worth seeing once in IMAX. But don't expect it to blow your mind beyond the visuals.
What did you think? Are you team critics or team audience on this one? Drop a comment. I'm curious where people land on this split reaction.
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