Tron: Ares follows Ares (Jared Leto), an advanced program sent from the digital realm into the physical world on a perilous mission, marking humanity’s first contact with artificial intelligence beings. Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters) is on the verge of beating ENCOM to the AI punch, in that he can bring a digital item/being into the real world—but only for 29 minutes. The new CEO of ENCOM, Eve Kim (Greta Lee), hopes to thwart Julian’s plan by finding Kevin Flynn’s original source code, so ENCOM can finish permanently integrating Tron world elements with reality without the time delay.
I went into this 15-year gap sequel with the expectation that the music/score and visuals would drive the entertainment value like its predecessor, but the story would still be iffy—if not, worse. To my surprise, the story was not terrible as it had something more to say. I did not expect to see a second Frankenstein film this year! The creator and creature tropes were prevalent in this film, even referencing and quoting Mary Shelley’s novel. The film contained a lot of AI exploration, which was troubling but relevant to our current technological climate.
I thought Eve liking Ares and vice versa was both super cheesy and scary. Their flirty conversations reminded me of how more people are interacting with AI companions in real life than ever before. I assumed the movie would have paired Eve and Seth Flores (Arturo Castro) together, with Ares serving as the robot middleman. Instead, it was almost disturbing to see a human go doey-eyed over an AI person.
The overall story was the best the Tron movies could do to date, filled with corporate espionage and the ability to bring what you can imagine to life. Every character’s motivation was clear in what they wanted to accomplish, and they had a path to follow. It all boiled down to the opposite of what happened in Tron: Legacy; what if a program became sentient but was actually a good person? That is all to say, Clu walked so Ares could run into the real world.
Tron: Ares opens with spectacle, delivering an intensely visual and immersive audio experience. As Tron: Legacy benefited from Daft Punk’s acclaimed soundtrack, Tron: Ares gains its edge through Nine Inch Nails, who leave a distinctive musical imprint. Filmed for IMAX, the movie relies heavily on its dazzling light displays, supported by cyberpunk-inspired techno beats. Like its predecessor, it feels less like a conventional film and more like watching a music album come to life on screen.
Despite several elements being either copied or inverted from Tron: Legacy, Tron: Ares builds effectively on what was previously established. Every Tron fan knows about Light Disks and Lightcycles, but this film explores how more creations could exist within the Grid. In a way, this world feels like the original Minecraft—only with a stronger cyberpunk edge. Fans will also see a wider variety of vehicles this time, which might have seemed like easy plot devices if they weren’t so visually striking.
“The main reason Tron: Ares feels like the perfect Tron film is that technology has finally caught up with what the series has always tried to visualize.”
One of the film’s most intriguing ideas is how it bridges the gap between the digital world and reality. The process looks almost like 3D printing the game’s elements into existence. With 3D printing now more accessible than ever, this concept fits naturally within Tron: Ares.
A clever detail is that Dillinger Systems’ printing process resembles real-world 3D printing, complete with support structures visible after production. By contrast, when ENCOM’s team attempts to print something from the Grid into the real world, no supports are needed—the digital element materializes almost instantly.
The main reason Tron: Ares feels like the perfect Tron film is that technology has finally caught up with what the series has always tried to visualize. Tron: Legacy was ahead of its time in the story it aimed to tell but lacked the visual sophistication and narrative refinement needed to make it the franchise’s best. Both films succeeded with the technology available to them and reflected the technical limitations of their respective eras.
Tron: Ares stands apart because its themes feel timely, arriving during the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. While Tron: Legacy served as a warning about the dangers of AI, Ares seems to explore its potential benefits. Disney strikes a balance through Athena, who effectively serves as this film’s version of Clu, representing what happens when a program rigidly follows its directive.
The film’s release timing also works in its favour. It captures a rare “life imitates art” and “art imitates life” moment. Still, the message remains somewhat ambiguous—it’s unclear whether the audience is meant to leave feeling optimistic about AI because of programs like Ares.
As for the performances, the cast brings energy and conviction to their roles. Jeff Bridges reprises his laid-back, philosopher-like Kevin Flynn with familiar ease. While the franchise has never been known for deep character writing, the actors elevate the material. Comedian Hasan Minhaj stands out but benefits from having limited opportunities to improvise, allowing Castro’s Seth to serve as the true comic relief alongside Eve. The film would have benefited from developing the relationship between Eve and Seth more than the one between Eve and Ares.
Surprisingly, Tron: Ares features one of Jared Leto’s stronger performances. He fits the role of an artificial intelligence perfectly, landing his comedic beats when needed. Why his hair is perpetually wet in this film remains a mystery. His recent turn as Dr. Michael Morbius in Morbius was serviceable, but that film suffered from uninspired storytelling. Here, Leto finally leads a project supported by a more compelling and visually driven narrative.
The film’s most distracting issue is its uneven ADR, likely the result of reshoots. At times, Leto’s dialogue doesn’t match his lip movements, but Peters’ scenes suffer most from this problem. In several moments, frequent camera cuts between Castro’s line deliveries suggest the editor or director swapped dialogue in post-production.
Equally jarring are the noticeable blue screen sets, which stand out against the film’s otherwise polished visual design. The compositing challenges are most apparent in the Dillinger Systems warehouse sequences, where the actors appear slightly detached from their surroundings. Filming in a real warehouse would have created a more grounded look. This is especially evident because the practical set pieces within the Grid and city scenes appear so refined.
“Despite its flaws, Tron: Ares remains an entertaining watch—and one that leaves me eager to see where this digital world could evolve next.”
The GoPro shots add a welcome sense of realism, effectively capturing the actors performing their own stunts—whether tumbling down a digital building or racing motorbikes through the city. From a cinematic perspective, the GoPro-style approach complements the film’s aesthetic. The stunt and fight choreography also deserves recognition, offering the VFX teams some relief during these sequences. Overall, the balance between CGI and practical effects creates a visually engaging experience rather than an uncanny one.
As for Tron: Ares’ soundtrack, Nine Inch Nails delivers a strong performance overall. Only one track feels out of place—it sounds better suited for a 1990s romantic scene than the intense action sequence it accompanies. The tonal mismatch makes for an awkward moment; if the intent was to heighten tension, it instead drew laughter for how poorly the song fit what was happening on screen. On this point, Daft Punk’s work on Tron: Legacy remains the stronger and more cohesive soundtrack.
From a broader view of the Tron franchise, Tron: Ares spends considerably less time within the game world itself. Fans hoping for a deeper exploration of the Grid may feel disappointed. Still, the film compensates with its cyber-espionage elements, high-speed motorcycle chases, and pulse-pounding rhythm that mirrors its techno-driven soundtrack. Despite its flaws, Tron: Ares remains an entertaining watch—and one that leaves me eager to see where this digital world could evolve next.
