The new Disney science-fiction sequel, Tron: Ares, failed to light up at the box office as it had a disappointing opening in its theatrical release, and fans have been wondering what led to its disastrous results.
Fifteen years after the release of Legacy, the Tron franchise is back on the big screen with Jared Leto leading the new installment. The new movie was not just a standalone sequel to the previous films, but it was planned to be a relaunch of the franchise for the new generation. However, it appears that the franchise's future is in jeopardy based on its opening box office.
Why Tron: Ares Had a Disappointing Box Office Opening
According to Variety, Tron: Ares opened with a disappointing $33.5 million at the North American box office, which is below the projections by analysts.
Worldwide, it had a global opening of $60 million, which is also seen as a big disappointment considering that the film was reportedly made with a budget of $180 million. It is now more likely than ever that it won't be able to break even by the end of its theatrical run.
The biggest question now is why the film ended up being a disappointment at the box office, despite being a major franchise property and a visual spectacle that is appealing to the general audience.
David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, told Variety that the interest in the film waned in the days leading up to its release.
"The movie was tracking well, but interest stalled during the last 10 days, and the opening dropped," he said.
However, Gross also noted that the international audience might embrace the film more due to its heavily visual scope. He added, "The science fiction genre has always done well overseas. This is effects-driven, good-guys-versus-bad-guys storytelling that’s understood and well-liked across all cultures."
Some fans have also argued that Leto is not a box office draw, and this is yet again proof that he is not the kind of actor who can open a film to bigger numbers despite being an Oscar winner. Some also noted that the franchise is already decades-long, and it doesn't have a massive following that other old titles have. After all, the original Tron only became popular due to a cult following.
It remains to be seen how it will perform in the coming weeks, but any possibility of a fourth movie is unlikely at this point.
What is Tron: Ares About?
Tron: Ares follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.
The star-studded cast includes Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges.
The film is directed by Joachim Rønning. Nine Inch Nails worked on the musical score. Joseph Kosinki, who directed Legacy, is involved as one of the executive producers. Leto also serves as producer.
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