Tron: Ares, featuring Jared Leto, is experiencing a significant downturn in its box office performance during its second weekend. This latest entry in the long-established Tron series initially opened with a respectable three-day gross of $33.2 million, surpassing the 1982 debut of the original Tron at $4.8 million but not reaching the heights of 2010’s Tron: Legacy, which opened at $44 million.
According to Variety, estimates as of Saturday morning suggest that Tron: Ares will rake in about $11 million domestically by the end of its second weekend. This represents a decline of 65% from its opening weekend, setting a new low for the franchise, compared to Tron: Legacy‘s second-weekend drop of 56.5%.
Although the original Tron film remains the least commercially successful in the series with a global total of $50 million, it experienced a much smaller drop of 23.4% in its second week, outperforming its sequels in this regard.
It appears that the downturn for Tron: Ares isn’t tied to its critical reception, which has been mixed. The film currently holds a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Interestingly, a similar score of 51% did not prevent Tron: Legacy from achieving better financial results in both its opening and second weekends.
The severe drop in revenue for Ares has significantly widened the gap between it and Legacy. Projections indicate that by the end of its tenth day, Ares will have accumulated a domestic total of $54 million, whereas Legacy had already amassed $87.4 million by that point, bolstered by a $19.1 million haul during its second weekend.
Should Tron: Ares continue along this financial trajectory, it might end up earning well under $250 million globally by the conclusion of its theatrical run. This outcome would be particularly disappointing given its substantial production budget of $180 million, which sets its break-even point around $450 million—a figure not even reached by Tron: Legacy ($400.1 million).
Although Tron: Ares concludes with a setup for a potential sequel, the likelihood of this sequel materializing soon seems slim. The film would need to achieve cult status, akin to its predecessors, for the promise of a sequel to be realized.
The possibility of Tron: Ares gaining cult status through VOD, streaming, and physical media sales is not out of the question, especially given the generally positive audience reception indicated by a CinemaScore of B+ and an 86% Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter score. Nevertheless, the franchise might be looking at an extended break of a decade or more before any new movies are released.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
