Tron: Ares lands atop the box office but underwhelms

Tron: Ares number 1 at $33.5 million USD, without explosion, cold glow of an October weekend.

Disney revives TRON: Ares, the third installment, and takes the lead at the North American box office with $33.5M over the weekend of October 10–12, 2025, below the anticipated $45–50M (Variety, THR). Friday at $14.3M marks a fan-driven start, before a decline (Deadline). Released in France on October 8, the film totals ~ $60.5M worldwide in preliminary estimates, for a disputed budget ($150–180M).

Tron 3 takes the 1st place in North America with $33.5M over the period of October 10–12, 2025. The result remains below the expectations set by several firms and specialized media that anticipated a start around $45–50M. Internationally, the first estimates put the worldwide total for the weekend at around $60.5M. AP; Entertainment Weekly.

In the lead but without jubilation, Ares moves forward like a runner pacing himself. A cult franchise with a niche audience: it will need to win over more than just the loyal fans. Premium formats act as coaches, extending the effort, opening up IMAX evenings.
In the lead but without jubilation, Ares moves forward like a runner pacing himself. A cult franchise with a niche audience: it will need to win over more than just the loyal fans. Premium formats act as coaches, extending the effort, opening up IMAX evenings.

A Disputed Budget, a Signal for Disney

The divergence on the production budget is clear: $150M according to AP, versus $180M excluding marketing according to Entertainment Weekly. In addition to this discrepancy, these amounts highlight the financial exposure of a studio. The latter has made several costly bets in recent years. The profitability of Tron: Ares will depend on a strong hold in the second weekend, increased international exploitation, and a premium market (IMAX, Dolby, 4DX) mobilized over time.

Two figures circulate for the production cost: $150M cited by AP, versus $180M noted by Entertainment Weekly. Beyond the divergence, these amounts remind us of the financial exposure of a studio. It has made several costly bets in recent years. The profitability of Tron: Ares will depend on a strong hold in the second weekend, increased international exploitation, and a premium market (IMAX, Dolby, 4DX) mobilized over time.

Jared Leto leads the charge in Tron: Ares, an iconic figure under leather and light. The momentum from fans propels the start, then the surge calms over the weekend. The challenge is clear: expand the circle, bring the curious into the dance. Word of mouth will decide if the pulse amplifies or fades away.
Jared Leto leads the charge in Tron: Ares, an iconic figure under leather and light. The momentum from fans propels the start, then the surge calms over the weekend. The challenge is clear: expand the circle, bring the curious into the dance. Word of mouth will decide if the pulse amplifies or fades away.

The North American podium is as follows: Tron: Ares (~$33.5M) ahead of Roofman (~$8M) and One Battle After Another (~$6.6M). The hierarchy highlights both the drawing power of the TRON brand and the competitive weakness of a traditionally volatile October weekend. The session curve indicates a marked front-load: fan audience present from Friday, then classic erosion on Saturday night and Sunday.

Why is it Stalling?

Several elements converge:

  • Niche franchise: despite its cult status, TRON has never gathered a massive family audience.
  • Calendar: October mixes genre films, auteur dramas, and late blockbusters, at the risk of diluting attention.
  • Marketing signal: the communication emphasized the AI theme, the return of an iconic visual universe, and music by Nine Inch Nails. Image assets that do not mechanically translate into tickets sold.

Legacy of 2010: A More Robust Precedent

In 2010, Tron: Legacy (distribution led by Jeff Bridges) posted an opening around $44M (not adjusted). Fifteen years later, the ecosystem has changed: cost inflation, post-pandemic streaming pressure, scarcity of major launches outside "four-quadrant" franchises. The gap between $33.5M and $44M illustrates an erosion of appetite, despite a loyal fan base. (Tron: Legacy (2010).)

Jeff Bridges, the eternal Kevin Flynn from TRON, holds the thread of the legend. A bridge between two eras, he reminds us where we come from and what we are pursuing. Amidst the clamor of new things, his mere presence draws attention. To the long-time fans, he offers the living memory that reassures and connects.
Jeff Bridges, the eternal Kevin Flynn from TRON, holds the thread of the legend. A bridge between two eras, he reminds us where we come from and what we are pursuing. Amidst the clamor of new things, his mere presence draws attention. To the long-time fans, he offers the living memory that reassures and connects.
Greta Lee, Eve Kim in Tron: Ares, brings a breath of fresh air to the luminous grid. The Parisian cavalcade set the tone before the French release on October 8. Here, the goal is not nostalgia: it's the journey towards new audiences. On the horizon, Europe as a playground and a test of patience.
Greta Lee, Eve Kim in Tron: Ares, brings a breath of fresh air to the luminous grid. The Parisian cavalcade set the tone before the French release on October 8. Here, the goal is not nostalgia: it’s the journey towards new audiences. On the horizon, Europe as a playground and a test of patience.
Cameron Monaghan enters as a fresh face in Tron: Ares, with a straightforward and undecided look. The connected generation may see it as their gateway to TRON. Breaking out of the circle of insiders is the mission, modest yet essential. The challenge remains to strike a chord, where the myth becomes shared.
Cameron Monaghan enters as a fresh face in Tron: Ares, with a straightforward and undecided look. The connected generation may see it as their gateway to TRON. Breaking out of the circle of insiders is the mission, modest yet essential. The challenge remains to strike a chord, where the myth becomes shared.

The Financial Equation: Beyond the First Weekend

At $33.5M domestically, the film must hope for: (1) a multiplication of at least 2.7–3.0x of its North American score (threshold of $90–100M US), (2) a higher international, driven by Asia and Europe, and (3) sustained premium exploitation. In this context, the budget divergence ($150M vs $180M) is not anecdotal: each additional tranche requires tens of millions more in box office, or ancillary revenues (licensing, digital sales, premium VOD) to compensate.

Evan Peters, Julian Dillinger in Tron: Ares, moves forward discreetly. The cast of Tron: Ares, a hybrid, seeks an opening, mixing icons and new faces. The base must expand, step by step, session by session. It's a matter of patience and alignment of the planets.
Evan Peters, Julian Dillinger in Tron: Ares, moves forward discreetly. The cast of Tron: Ares, a hybrid, seeks an opening, mixing icons and new faces. The base must expand, step by step, session by session. It’s a matter of patience and alignment of the planets.
Gillian Anderson, as Elizabeth Dillinger in Tron: Ares, exudes a magnetic calm. Prestige and authority provide a foundation for the techno-narrative. In the neon storm, she draws a clear and reassuring line. To those who hesitate, she offers a firm and elegant hand.
Gillian Anderson, as Elizabeth Dillinger in Tron: Ares, exudes a magnetic calm. Prestige and authority provide a foundation for the techno-narrative. In the neon storm, she draws a clear and reassuring line. To those who hesitate, she offers a firm and elegant hand.
Joachim Rønning at the helm, Disney at every level: the mechanism is well-oiled. Tron: Ares – release date: France October 8, 2025, US October 10, 2025; milestones set and premium formats leading the way. Premium formats serve as locomotives and totemic screens. The journey remains: to hold on, week after week, like a score.
Joachim Rønning at the helm, Disney at every level: the mechanism is well-oiled. Tron: Ares – release date: France October 8, 2025, US October 10, 2025; milestones set and premium formats leading the way. Premium formats serve as locomotives and totemic screens. The journey remains: to hold on, week after week, like a score.
Trailer of Tron: Ares (VO STFR): vibrating neon lights, questioning AI, pounding Nine Inch Nails beats. The promise is sensory, almost physical, and calls for the big screen. It hints at the balance the film seeks, between cult and openness. The verdict will belong to the audience, at the pace of word-of-mouth.

Key Takeaways

Number 1 without triumph. A start below projections, a cult but divisive franchise, and a high budget that requires strong performance over time. France and Europe will weigh in the equation, as will the premium share and word-of-mouth.

This article was written by Christian Pierre.