Disney is known for its successful franchises, but *Tron* has never quite become a major blockbuster. While the films have a unique look and memorable music, they’ve consistently received mixed reviews and haven’t performed well in theaters. The latest installment, *Tron: Ares*, followed this pattern, earning only $33.2 million domestically during its opening weekend and receiving similarly unenthusiastic reviews. This poor performance suggests the *Tron* series may be ending.
According to a recent article in *The Hollywood Reporter*, the disappointing performance of *Tron: Ares* may signal the end of the *Tron* film series. Sources say Disney is likely to retire the franchise, as it hasn’t attracted a broad enough audience and continues to underperform. The report highlights that Disney executives worried the films would only appeal to dedicated fans – a concern that proved accurate. *Tron: Ares* particularly struggled to attract younger viewers and received a lukewarm ‘B+’ grade from audiences on CinemaScore.
Spoilers for Tron: Ares follow
The Sequel Tron: Ares Teased Will Probably Never Happen
I walked out of *Tron: Ares* feeling like Disney was definitely setting things up for more. The story wraps up nicely on its own, but the final moments clearly hint at a sequel – we see Ares stepping into the real world to find others of his kind, and even a potential return for Olivia Wilde’s Quorra from *Tron: Legacy*. On the villain side, Julian Dillinger escapes into a digital grid, seemingly poised to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps as a new version of Sark. Unfortunately, with the recent news surrounding the future of *Tron*, it looks like both of these storylines are now likely to be left hanging, which is a real shame considering the potential they had.
It’s not surprising that a third *Tron* movie hasn’t been made. The *Tron* films are expensive to produce, filled with impressive visual effects and action sequences. *Ares* cost $180 million to make – even more than *Tron Legacy*’s $170 million budget. Unfortunately, *Ares* is performing worse at the box office than *Legacy*, which wasn’t a huge success to begin with. *Legacy* only earned $400 million worldwide, leading Disney to reconsider another sequel. They tried to come up with a new plan to appeal to a wider audience, but it didn’t work. Given the high cost, it makes more sense to pause the series, even if *Ares* eventually gains a dedicated fanbase like *Legacy* did over time.
Disney still has many popular franchises it can rely on, with more Star Wars and Marvel movies planned, as well as highly anticipated films like *Toy Story 5* and a live-action *Moana* remake. The company also seems to be focusing more on creating original movies to attract younger audiences, and the disappointing performance of *Tron: Ares* likely reinforces that strategy. While original films can be risky because they lack established brands, a fresh, new story could be just what audiences want instead of yet another revival of an older, less successful franchise.
Despite recent news, some fans are still hoping for more *Tron* in the future. The report only stated the franchise is finished with theatrical releases, which leaves the possibility of a Disney+ series open. Many movies that didn’t do well in theaters have found success on streaming platforms, so a *Tron* show could potentially reach a wider audience. However, a TV series seems just as improbable as another film. It would be expensive to produce, and the franchise hasn’t proven to be a worthwhile investment. Furthermore, Disney is currently reducing its streaming content. With only one live-action *Star Wars* show planned (*Ahsoka* Season 2) and Marvel scaling back its projects to improve quality, launching a new *Tron* series doesn’t seem likely at this time.
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2025-10-15 19:28