Disney owns a huge collection of popular franchises thanks to buying Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. Despite this wealth of content, Disney continues to develop new blockbuster series internally. While Walt Disney Animation Studios consistently delivers hits, like the recent success of Zootopia 2, Disney also tries to create popular live-action films. One franchise they keep revisiting is Tron, with the latest installment, Tron: Ares, released last fall. Although the film didn’t perform well in theaters, it’s now gaining attention through streaming.
According to FlixPatrol, which tracks what’s popular on streaming platforms, Tron: Ares is currently the most-watched movie on Disney+ worldwide. It’s significantly more popular than other big titles like Avatar: The Way of Water, the original Avatar, and Zootopia.
Why Tron: Ares Is a Hit on Disney+ After Flopping at the Box Office
The Tron series has always been less mainstream than many other Disney franchises. While the first two Tron movies developed a dedicated fanbase, they didn’t perform well in theaters initially and gained popularity later on. Tron: Ares appeared to be following the same pattern. Despite a lack of major competing films, Ares only earned $142.2 million worldwide, while costing between $180 and $220 million to make. The movie ended up symbolizing a particularly weak October for box office results.
While Tron: Ares received mixed reviews – earning a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes – its performance in theaters likely suffered as a result. Those lukewarm reviews probably kept some potential viewers away, making them feel it wasn’t worth the trip to the cinema. However, the film has become a big hit on Disney+. It’s often easier to convince people to watch something at home with just a click, and Ares didn’t quite feel like a movie that needed to be seen on the big screen. Though the Tron franchise is made for theaters, many fans were happy to wait and watch Ares from the comfort of their own homes.
Most viewers agree that Tron: Ares doesn’t quite succeed with its story, but it still has enough good qualities to be worth watching. The Tron franchise is known for its amazing visuals, and Ares definitely delivers on that front. Combined with Nine Inch Nails’ energetic soundtrack, the film’s action sequences are particularly impressive. If you have Disney+, it’s best to watch Tron: Ares on a TV to fully appreciate it – the thrilling Light Cycle chases don’t have the same impact on smaller screens like tablets or phones.
Despite the success of Ares on Disney+, another Tron movie in theaters seems unlikely. Following the film’s disappointing performance at the box office, reports suggest Disney is shelving the franchise, even though Ares set up potential sequels. This makes sense, considering Ares reportedly lost around $100 million. While it’s a shame Tron never became a major blockbuster series, it’s at least proving popular on Disney+.
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2026-01-15 18:11