Tron: Ares Called “Basic” and “Emotionally Empty” in First Reactions
The soundtrack and the visuals are the stars of Tron: Ares, as fans and critics weigh in with their first reactions to the threequel.
Tron: Ares is headed to theaters this weekend, and the long-awaited third entry in Disney’s Tron franchise has been intriguing from the get-go.
Directed by Joachim Rønning and starring Jared Leto as Ares, a powerful digital Program, this installment is set a while after Legacy and sees AI-created programs crossing over into the real world. Jeff Bridges once again returns as Kevin Flynn and he is joined by Tron newcomers Evan Peters and Gillian Anderson, with a Nine Inch Nails score replacing Daft Punk’s French electro Legacy vibe.
It sounds good. If you’ve seen the trailer, it clearly looks good. However, we’re not finding that many positive things to mention about the movie while scrolling through its initial reactions. The Guardian and The Independent have both bestowed one-star reviews on Tron: Ares, with the former calling it “mind-bendingly dull” and the latter declaring it “the worst film of the year.” Elsewhere, opinions were more mixed, with one reviewer noting the movie’s “bare bones” story to be “fine,” while another referred to it as “stylish” but “emotionally empty.”
However, some of those who got a first look at Tron: Ares this week were more enthusiastic, with one attendee crowning it “a certified banger” and another labeling it “an absolute rush from beginning to end.”
Check out some of the first reactions to the new sci-fi threequel below…
Producer Justin Springer hopes that the film’s themes will still resonate with audiences, 15 years after Legacy’s debut.
“The interesting thing is that with each year that has passed, the idea that doesn’t become dated actually becomes more relevant,” he told Comicbook. “Like, right now, this concept for a movie is more in the zeitgeist than it’s ever been, and so we’ve just been chasing that idea for a long time, not to mention just technologically the ability to produce a light cycle in the real world or do some of the visual effects that we’re talking about doing. It’s we’ll be able to do a better job now than we would have 10 years ago.”
Tron: Ares is set for release on October 10, 2025.
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Kirsten Howard has paid their dues. Yes sir, the check is in the mail.