Tron: Ares has officially debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a disappointing 58% score, which actually isn’t the lowest-rated film in the Tron franchise.
While some critics praised the visuals and Nine Inch Nails’ score, the overall response paints a picture of a film that’s all flash and little substance. Check out reactions below.
For comparison, the 2010 Tron: Legacy has a 51% critics score and a 64% audience score. The 1982 Tron has a 61% critics score and a 69% audience score. So if you are a Tron fan, the good news is that Ares seems to align with those ratings.
What Critics Didn’t Like
The majority of negative reviews agree that Tron: Ares is a visually impressive but emotionally hollow experience.
The writing and character development have taken the biggest hits, with many reviewers calling the plot derivative and the characters lifeless.
“A big, empty spectacle of a movie, TRON: Ares is what happens when a franchise decides that a cyberpunk aesthetic alone is enough to carry a series.” – Silver Screen Riot
“Tron: Ares has the visual flair of a mobile game and a thematic depth that makes the 1982 original’s premise — Jeff Bridges gets sucked into a computer — feel like it was written by philosophers.” – Independent (UK)
“With little to offer outside of nostalgia and a banger of a Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, it wastes solid work from some of its leads on ideas the film should have been self-aware enough to avoid, and maybe misses the point of the franchise altogether.” – IGN Movies
“There is no drama or jeopardy or human interest anywhere. This franchise now looks about as urgently contemporary as an in-car CD player.” – The Guardian
“‘Tron: Ares’ has, in no uncertain terms, a great frickin’ soundtrack. The movie, on other hand, completely sucks.” – TheWrap
Critics also took issue with Jared Leto’s performance, the shift away from the Grid, and the film’s over-reliance on style over substance. Several noted that the decision to bring the digital world into the real one undercut what made Tron unique in the first place.
What Some Critics Did Like
Despite the negative consensus, Tron: Ares still has defenders. A number of critics praised the film’s visual effects, sound design, and especially the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack. Some even felt the film’s spectacle justified a theatrical viewing.
“TRON: Ares is the COOLEST looking film of the year, with a THRILLING and completely mind-melting soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails. A visual and sonic triumph, even if a simple story holds it back.” – The Movie Podcast
“Ares proves that the third time is the charm with this series, as we finally have a film that begins to realize the possibilities of this world created over 40 years ago.”– Collider
“Rønning’s dazzling action sequences and the killer soundtrack might be enough to satisfy fans, but Tron: Ares feels just as likely to get lost among a sea of the type of films Tron inspired.” – Polygon
Final Verdict
While Tron: Ares dazzles the eyes and ears, it seems to fall apart when it comes to heart and storytelling.
At a 58% Rotten score, it may appeal to fans of sci-fi aesthetics and longtime Tron enthusiasts, but general audiences and critics alike appear underwhelmed by its hollow core.
