By Aria T.
Praised for its unique visuals and advanced CGI that blew the audience away in 1982, it’s no wonder Tron is still receiving so much love years later. Although not the best science fiction film out there, it’s a cult classic for its concept, aesthetic, and effects, which is why, even in 2025, Disney is still trying to ride that high.
The 2010 film Tron: Legacy might be even more loved than the first, which is usually not the case for sequels. By updating the original visuals with modern technology, and including an iconic soundtrack by Daft Punk, Legacy is able to stand on its own as a film. It perfectly blends a new storyline with the old characters and aesthetic that everyone fell in love with in ‘82.
This is not the case for Tron: Ares, the 2025 release that truly deserves the title of “sequel” (and not in a good way). While Legacy is a continuation of the story, its charm lies in its fresh ideas. It takes the improved technology of the time and uses that to delve deeper into the digital world of Tron, as well as properly developing its new characters; it’s more than just nostalgia.
The same cannot be said for Tron: Ares, however. Starring Jared Leto and Greta Lee, Ares had a lot of potential. It has a well-rounded cast, a soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails, and an even more unique concept than Legacy. But what it lacks is depth. It’s almost two-hours of pure nostalgia-bait with no tie to anything important or meaningful.
Ares follows Julian Dillinger as he attempts to bring the AI of the digital world to the physical one. His sophisticated program Ares, the master control of the Dillinger Systems Grid, is meant to become the blueprint for a super-soldier to be used by the military. However, there’s a problem: these programs only last in the real world for 29 minutes.
The film explores the ethics of AI, the idea of permanence, and what it means to be human. As he makes his way through the world, Ares slowly gains a sense of self, and eventually decides that he would like to be “real.”
While the premise sounds new and relevant in today’s world, where AI is a huge part of our everyday lives, Tron: Ares fails to deliver anything new to the discussion. It teeters on the edge of being thought-provoking and interesting, instead serving the audience a reheated version of the moral dilemmas they witness every day. The characters are almost interesting enough to care about, but they never quite feel real. Talented and experienced actors like Gillian Anderson and Evan Peters feel underutilized in this film, buried under the plot holes and substandard script.
There are some positives that come with this Tron film. Its graphics are wonderful, keeping the audience gripped to every scene (even if what’s going on is uninteresting). The updated red aesthetic truly transforms the movie’s vibe, making it stand out against the previous two. The soundtrack adds tension that pulls you to the edge of your seat; although not as iconic as Daft Punk’s, Ares’ auditory storytelling is what truly makes the film memorable.
Even if it’s not very interesting when it comes to storytelling, the movie is a great set-up for the future. Tron may not need any more sequels, but it’s clear that this one is meant to introduce brand new characters and programs for future use. Characters like Eve Kim (CEO of Encom) and Ares have the potential to become memorable, like Sam Flynn and Quorra, if they’re given proper development in the next film.
If one phrase could describe Tron: Ares, it truly is “wasted potential.” Stunning visuals, a fresh idea and aesthetic, and a gripping soundtrack all save this movie from becoming completely irrelevant. It feels like a disservice to use them on a dull script like this. We can only hope that if Disney decides to pursue the franchise any further, they’ll finally listen to what the fans have been asking for since the first movie: a film that properly utilizes the depth of the Tron world, and the human experience that it seeks to explore.
