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Tron Ares Brings Fans Back to the Grid
Some films feel like they were pulled from Hollywood by sheer force of will. Tron: Ares is one of them — a long time coming, a passion project years in the making for Jared Leto, who both stars in and champions this stunning return to one of Disney’s most visually ambitious franchises. Four decades after the original Tron and over a decade after Tron: Legacy flirted with bridging worlds, Ares finally fulfills the promise that CLU once sought: the collision of the digital grid and the human realm.
The result is a cinematic experience that feels at once familiar and utterly new — a film that crackles with neon electricity and human emotion in equal measure. The visuals are, simply put, breathtaking. Director Joachim Rønning crafts a digital world that no longer feels like a simulation, but a living, breathing extension of our own reality. The grid’s geometric perfection bleeds seamlessly into the imperfections of the real world, creating an aesthetic that’s both haunting and hypnotic. It’s as if the pulse of the system has escaped containment, and we’re all just along for the ride.
Related: First Look at All New Products Launching Ahead of Release of Tron: Ares
A major part of that pulse comes from Nine Inch Nails, whose score for Tron: Ares is nothing short of revelatory. Following in the footsteps of Daft Punk’s legendary Legacy soundtrack, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross bring an industrial edge to the film’s sonic architecture. It’s dark, thrumming, and alive — a digital heartbeat that amplifies every frame. The Tron trilogy has always been defined by its music, and Ares continues that legacy with a score that both honors and evolves the soundscape of the grid.
But here’s the surprise: Tron: Ares isn’t just a visual and auditory triumph. It’s also… good. Genuinely good. The story, which could easily have been crushed under the weight of its own mythology, instead finds room to breathe. It builds bridges for newcomers unfamiliar with the Tron canon, offering enough exposition to orient without overwhelming, while still hiding plenty of Easter eggs for the diehards. Against all odds, the script has heart — exploring questions of identity, creation, and control without losing sight of the thrill that brought audiences here in the first place.
Leto’s Ares is a complex, brooding figure — both godlike and deeply human — and his chemistry with Greta Lee lends the film a spark of unpredictable energy. Their partnership feels earned, layered with both curiosity and conflict. Yet it’s Evan Peters, as the cunning Julian Dillinger, who steals the show. Known for his comedic sharpness, Peters turns that timing inward, delivering a villain who is as magnetic as he is menacing. It’s a performance that reshapes the tone of the film — a digital-age antagonist for an audience raised on algorithms.
And then there’s Jeff Bridges. His return as Kevin Flynn brings the series full circle, offering a quiet grace that reminds us why this world matters in the first place. Still, it must be said: this is Tron without Tron. Bruce Boxleitner’s absence is felt, a flicker missing from the code. Yet Rønning and Leto manage to craft something that stands confidently on its own — an evolution rather than an imitation.
Related: Tron Ares Disappointing Box Office Numbers Revealed for Opening Weekend
Despite its artistic merits, Tron: Ares is currently lagging behind early box office projections. But early audience reactions tell a different story — one of enthusiasm, even love. Word of mouth is spreading across the grid, and it’s clear that the film is resonating with those willing to take the plunge.
In the end, Tron: Ares isn’t just another sequel. It’s a reboot of belief — in Disney’s willingness to take creative risks, in Leto’s relentless dedication, and in the enduring allure of a digital frontier that still has stories left to tell.
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