Tron: Ares (2025)

​“Tron: Ares” stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, Gillian Anderson, Sarah Desjardins, and Jeff Bridges.  Released on October 10, 2025, the film has a highly sophisticated program entering the real world for a dangerous mission.

The film is directed by Joachim Rønning, who also directed “Kubisten”, “Doomsday”, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”, and “Young Woman and the Sea”.  It is the third installment in the “Tron” series.  Technology has undeniably come a long way in its evolution, impacting not only our daily lives but also the realm of filmmaking.  Of course, with the inclusion of artificial intelligence, this evolution has undoubtedly changed how people view creativity and ideas, for better or worse.  A notable example came from Disney, in which it released a movie that shook the film industry with its groundbreaking effects, arcade-like aesthetics, and extensive use of CGI.  That film was called “Tron”, which involved a software programmer being transported into an arcade-inspired virtual world and fighting to restore freedom from a malevolent virtual intelligence.  It became a cult classic, celebrated for its technical achievements, and spawned a franchise that further explores the world of the Grid and its characters, including the 2010 sequel, “Tron: Legacy”.  After a fifteen-year hiatus from this virtual arcade universe, Disney decided to plug the franchise back in with a new installment that portrays the Grid invading the real world for the first time.  But is this film worthy of our quarters, or does it leave audiences wishing to unplug the system for good?  Let’s find out.

The story is set years after the events of “Tron: Legacy”.  Julian Dillinger (Peters), the CEO of Dillinger Systems and the grandson of Ed Dillinger, has found a solution to bring the aspects of the Grid into the real world.  This breakthrough leads him to develop a super-intelligent program named Ares (Leto) and a team of highly advanced soldiers, all aimed at achieving technological dominance.  As the AI beings invade the real world, Ares gradually becomes self-aware, prompting him to go off the grid.  With the help of ENCOM’s CEO, Eve Kim (Lee), Ares embarks on a perilous journey to locate the Permanence Code amid the ongoing tech war between ENCOM and Dillinger Systems.  His adventure also brings Ares face-to-face with Kevin Flynn (Bridges), a former executive of ENCOM who disappeared years ago.

The first time I became fully aware of the “Tron” franchise was through “Kingdom Hearts II”, which features a “Space Paranoids” level inspired by the first film.  This led me to check out the 1982 original, as well as its more recent sequel, “Tron: Legacy”.  That 2010 sequel not only ignited my fascination with the series for its technical brilliance, techno soundtrack, and captivating concept, but it also made me a fan of Joseph Kosinski’s work, particularly his visual storytelling and authentic sound design.  So, it’s no surprise that I was immediately drawn to “Tron: Ares”, which showcases the visual grandness reminiscent of “Legacy” and even introduces the intriguing idea of programs interacting with the real world.  Plus, it’s got Nine Inch Nails composing the music for the film, which includes Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, continuing the franchise’s tradition of electronic soundtracks.  Given that duo’s track record in composing scores, I did not doubt that they would create something remarkable for this sequel.  However, even with these usual elements, the challenge lies in crafting a compelling narrative that can successfully revive the dormant film series, with the only potential obstacle being people’s disinterest in its lead actor, Jared Leto.

“Tron: Ares” is a cinematic endeavor that intertwines the concept of computerized programs in the real world with the contemporary discourse on artificial intelligence.  This is evident through Julian’s AI creation, Ares, which was envisioned to revolutionize technology and put ENCOM out of business.  While the film highlights the potential of AI, it also delves into the repercussions of AI running amok if left unchecked, particularly focusing on Ares’s burgeoning self-awareness and Julian's obsession with success.  This narrative, paired with the idea of the Space Paranoids action occurring on the bustling city streets, positions “Tron: Ares” as a promising leap forward that honors its predecessors and introduces a modern-age flair for newcomers.  However, its true success lies in its execution regarding the narrative and, most importantly, its digital essence.  For the latter, it’s unsurprisingly another testament to the franchise’s pop culture legacy, showcasing its visually stunning effects, immersive sound design, and techno-driven melodies.  It’s also quite gritty in tone compared to its predecessors.  Unfortunately, when it comes to its story, the film has a few bugs in its system that prevent it from functioning properly.

As mentioned before, “Tron: Ares” explores the transformative impact of modern artificial intelligence, highlighting both its benefits and potential dangers.  However, the real heart of the story is Ares’s quest for humanity.  Although programmed by Dillinger, Ares isn’t really the antagonist we expect, despite the predecessors showing that the programs in red suits are considered evil.  Instead, the film portrays Ares as a creation who gradually questions his own purpose due to his self-awareness, leading to a journey of self-discovery as he strives to understand what it means to be human.  While laudable, the theme of humanity is something we’ve seen plenty of times before, resulting in some predictable moments that felt more programmable than humane, drawing parallels to familiar movies like “Terminator”.  Jesse Wigutow’s script introduces some interesting ideas that could have provided some deeper emotional resonance in its real-world messages, notably in the film’s first half.  Sadly, similar to Dillinger’s programs, the narrative disintegrated into millions of pixels over time, leaving its dazzlingly grim presentation to carry its blockbuster tropes and nostalgic undertones to the endgame.

Yes, I did say “nostalgic undertones” because “Tron: Ares” provided plenty of Easter eggs that reference its predecessors, with some being integral to the plot.  With this approach, it’s safe to assume that you don’t need to watch the first two “Tron” movies to understand the plot of “Ares”.  However, I would recommend that choice to find out why the franchise is popular in pop culture.  Admittedly, the nostalgia factor it provides should reward longtime players with extra points, but it can also be a distraction for those who want it to be a standalone story instead of a trip down memory lane.  Of course, that’s just one of several issues that prevented the film’s second half from fulfilling the potential it introduced.  In addition to the fatigue in its atmosphere and storytelling, “Tron: Ares” had this questionable case where it tried to inject some humor into its somewhat dark tone.  While some of the humor in the first act was passable, the remaining bits in the second half fell short in matching those similar heights, resulting in some jarring tonal shifts that disrupted the film’s coherence.  Along with a few pacing issues, the second half felt largely like a standard blockbuster film, albeit one with the “Tron” brand embedded in its system.  

When it’s not focusing on nostalgia baiting, “Tron: Ares” becomes a popcorn-inducing visual album-like experience that leverages its cinematic grandness under Joachim Rønning’s direction.  The grittiness in its tone and violence resulted in “Ares” becoming the first “Tron” installment to receive a PG-13 rating, as opposed to its predecessors, which were PG.  Although concerning at first, there isn’t anything too inappropriate for the franchise’s young fans to endure; however, younger ones might be turned off by its somber, dimly lit atmosphere.  Besides that, Rønning crafted a strikingly red-themed, grim vision that sets “Ares” apart from its blue-neoned predecessors while maintaining the fun of its action sequences.  These scenes were suitably engaging thanks to the sci-fi set designs and stylized choreography, despite the climax being occasionally hampered by its pacing and Tyler Nelson’s editing.  The Light Cycle city sequence and Dillinger Grid chase scene were my personal standouts that showcased Rønning’s approach to the Grid action.

These elements came courtesy of the visual effects team, and yes, they looked as incredible as the ones in “Legacy”.  Given the franchise’s reputation for its technical achievements, it’s evident that Disney wanted to maintain the digital marvel of its world-building and cinematic scale, more so than its live-action remakes.  That meant that the visuals had to be as authentic and convincing as possible, whether in the Grid or the outside world.  Unsurprisingly, it managed to accomplish that with ease, delivering some of the best, awe-inspiring visuals I've seen this year — at least, until the new “Avatar” movie comes out.  The neon-esque palettes in the Grid locations were seamlessly integrated into the film’s bleak nature, especially the one created by Dillinger Systems.  However, the true standout of the film’s visuals was the recreation of the Grid from the 1982 film, which was honestly the only redeeming factor from its attempt to ride the nostalgia wave.  I recently rewatched “Tron” to get myself prepared for “Ares”, and I got to tell you.  This film really nailed the retro simulation of the 1980s Grid to a tee, particularly the Light Cycle realm.  I also really enjoyed the compelling musical score by Nine Inch Nails, as it captured the grit and heavy electronic vibes of the franchise’s virtual world.  The rock band’s members, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, have been delivering some techno-esque music that succeeded in heightening the movies’ thrills, and “Tron: Ares” is unsurprisingly no exception.

As for the film’s cast, they’re adequate at best, though I wouldn’t say they truly elevate the film’s premise in some shape or form.  One of the few who stood out from the crowd was Jared Leto as the AI program that develops consciousness within his system.  I know that many people were skeptical about Leto being in a “Tron” film due to his previous performances, but honestly, I don’t think those concerns are warranted.  Regarding Ares’s robotic demeanor and fish-out-of-water vibes, Jared Leto’s subdued performance was surprisingly more fitting compared to his role in “Morbius”.  But, in all seriousness, I thought Leto was decent in displaying Ares’s AI-programmed personality.  The same goes for Jodie Turner-Smith regarding her role as Athena, Ares’s second-in-command.  Despite her predictable arc, Turner-Smith provided a formidable and creepy edge to the program that may be more dangerous than her captain.  Evan Peters was also passable, as he somehow channels a Saturday-morning-cartoon CEO villain vibe for Julian Dillinger, with the result being hit-and-miss.  Greta Lee has demonstrated potential in her acting career, particularly with her award nomination for “Past Lives”.  Unfortunately, her performance as Eve Kim might just be the weakest I’ve seen from her so far.  While far from insufferable, most of Lee’s line delivery felt pretty phoned in, almost as if she were programmed to say those lines of dialogue.  It makes it difficult to determine whether Eve is a human or another program in disguise.  I also want to mention that seeing Jeff Bridges back again as Kevin Flynn added a nice nostalgic touch to the film, even if his appearance was brief. 

Overall, “Tron: Ares” is a visually striking and gritty visual album whose programming is hindered by its narrative glitches.  It honors the sci-fi franchise’s roots by maintaining the digital techno allure of the Grid’s vibrant neon prowess, making it another worthwhile experience worth spending your quarters on.  However, its playability will highly depend on viewers’ tolerance for its substance.  While it shows potential in its themes regarding AI and humanity, the story instead relies on nostalgia and blockbuster tropes to excuse its clunky second half, which can be as unpleasant as being derezzed from the system.  Jared Leto and Jodie Turner-Smith were fine in their roles amid its generally average cast, and Joachim Rønning’s direction was commendable for managing the film’s dark tone and action sequences, despite its jarring humor.  Unfortunately, its clunky second half, predictable plot elements, and Greta Lee’s underwhelming performance might make this latest game challenging for most viewers to pick up and play.  If you like the first two “Tron” movies because of the visual effects, especially “Legacy”, you might enjoy “Ares” for that exact reason.  However, don’t expect its story to be a true “game-changer”. 

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