Big budget, big failure: Tron: Ares becomes Disney’s most expensive flop of the year

Tron: Ares was supposed to be Disney’s next big hit. Instead, the science fiction film with stars like Jared Leto became the most expensive flop of the year. What went wrong behind the scenes highlights a problem that affects many studios – the reasons run deep.

Losses of millions for the Disney company

Disney is facing a significant financial setback with its latest sci-fi project, Tron: Ares. The third part of the Tron franchise incurred production costs of $220 million – significantly more than the originally estimated $170 to 180 million. According to industry sources, the total cost of the project is $347.5 million, with $102.5 million spent on global advertising and marketing campaigns alone.

As of October 21, 2025, the film has only grossed $104.1 million worldwide, which is expected to leave Disney with a loss of over $132 million at the end of the film’s run ($215 million forecast). The numbers illustrate the extent of the commercial failure for the media group.

Disappointing theatrical release despite a star cast

For Tron: Ares, director Joachim Rønning relied on a prominent ensemble including Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Jeff Bridges. Nevertheless, the film disappointed on its opening weekend with only $33.5 million from 4,000 North American cinemas. Disney had originally expected revenue between $45 and $50 million for the opening weekend.

Although the film was well received on premium formats such as IMAX and Dolby Cinema and was praised for its visual effects, it failed to reach audiences beyond the core target group of science fiction fans. Internationally, the start was also weak: the bottom line here is only 50 million US dollars.

Script problems as the main point of criticism

Industry insiders attribute the failure mainly to the weak script. A talent representative was critical of Disney’s decision to spend a quarter of a billion dollars on a film that is part of a franchise that has failed commercially in four decades. There are said to have been differences of opinion behind the scenes: Director Rønning apparently preferred a different script than the script written by Jesse Wigutow, which Disney ultimately approved for production. In addition, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Billy Ray had to step in towards the end of filming to rework various parts of the film – an indication of the problems during production.

Uncertain future of the franchise

While 2010’s Tron: Legacy has achieved cult status after initial mixed reviews, the future of the Tron series is in question after this financial debacle. Some industry sources speculate that Tron: Ares ultimately served as an expensive advertisement for Disney theme park attractions, as the Tron rides in Shanghai and Orlando are among the most popular attractions. Despite its commercial failure, the film received positive reviews from viewers for its visual effects, Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, and acting. However, the elaborate production could not hide the fundamental weaknesses in the narrative structure.