Movie Review: ‘TRON: Ares’

The new movie, which stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee and returning ‘Tron’ veteran, has the artificial life of the Grid venturing more into our world.

Jared Leto as Ares in Disney's 'Tron: Ares'. Photo by Leah Gallo. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In theaters on October 10 via Walt Disney Studios is ‘TRON: Ares’, the third entry in the franchise about artificial beings existing on a computer grid.

TRON: Ares

"No going back."

PG-13Adventure Action Science Fiction

Review
Score

Release Date: Oct 10, 2025

Run Time: 1 hr 59 min

Budget: $150,000,000

Starring: Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters

Directed by Joachim Rønning (‘Young Woman and the Sea’), the new movie stars Jared Leto (‘Suicide Squad’), Greta Lee (‘Past Lives’) Evan Peters (‘X-Men: Apocalypse’), Gillian Anderson (‘Scoop'), Jodie Turner-Smith (‘Queen & Slim') and Jeff Bridges (‘TRON: Legacy’).

Initial Thoughts

Greta Lee as Eve Kim in Disney's Live Action 'Tron: Ares'. Photo by Leah Gallo. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The ‘Tron’ movies have always been about humanity’s connection to –– and issues with –– technology, and as AI dominates headlines, the time seems right for a new entry to the venerable franchise, which has so far only put out two entries.

Yet the latest suffers from some very basic issues, especially when it comes to its script, but does have enough entertainment value.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Greta Lee and Director Joachim Rønning on the set of Disney's Live Action 'Tron: Ares'. Photo by Leah Gallo. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The new movie’s script, written by Jesse Wigutow (David DiGilio receives a “story by” credit) makes the whole affair feel like a video game that has some impressive graphics, but not quite enough power to make it work fully. It’s loaded up with coincidence and contrivance along the lines of many basic would-be blockbusters.

And while it doesn’t lean too heavily on nostalgia, there’s a chunk of it near the end which, while it allows for a welcome return, does tend the drain the tension.

Director Joachim Rønning, meanwhile, has experience with this sort of big scale movies, but he can only do so much to inject humanity into the overall result.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Greta Lee as Eve Kim, Jared Leto as Ares, and Arturo Castro as Seth Flores in Disney's Live Action 'Tron: Ares'. Photo by Leah Gallo. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Jared Leto actually tones things down, Ares naturally being a more muted character until he starts to evolve. He’s perfectly serviceable in the role, and even funny towards the end.

Greta Lee enjoys some decent moments, but is mostly saddled with a character you feel like came straight off the peg in terms of story arc.

Evan Peters has fun as the villainous Julian Dillinger, but spare a thought for poor Gillian Anderson who pop ups for a couple of scenes as his mother but is essentially a walking cliché.

Final Thoughts

Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena in Disney's Live Action 'Tron: Ares'. Photo by Leah Gallo. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

‘TRON: Ares’ goes down as a decent, if sometimes uninspired threequel, mostly notable for a booming score from Nine Inch Nails.

If your biggest idea is “life is impermanent,” you might want to consider a rewrite before heading to production.

‘TRON: Ares’ receives 65 out of 100.

Jared Leto as Ares in Disney's 'Tron: Ares'. Photo Courtesey of DIsney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What’s the story of ‘TRON: Ares’?

‘TRON: Ares’ follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares (Jared Leto), who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.