How Disney+’s New #1 Movie Beat James Cameron’s Avatar

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Originally released in theaters in October 2025, Tron: Ares was intended as a fresh start for the visually striking Tron franchise. Following the financial success of Tron: Legacy, there was a lot of excitement for the sequel. Unfortunately, Tron: Ares didn’t perform well at the box office. Now that it’s available to stream on Disney+, however, the film is finding a new audience and gaining attention.

Wow, I was really surprised to see Tron: Ares hit number one on Disney+ in the US! It even jumped ahead of Avatar: The Way of Water on the top 10 list, according to Flix Patrol. Honestly, after seeing it in theaters, I figured that might be it for Tron. But this sudden popularity is giving me hope that we might get to see more of that world someday – it’s a really cool franchise, and I’d love to see it continue!

What Is Tron: Ares About?

Tron: Ares is the newest film in Disney’s Tron series, continuing the story that began with the original 1982 movie and 2010’s Tron: Legacy. While it takes place in the same world and features the Dillinger and Flynn families, producer Justin Springer has stated that it’s not a direct continuation of the previous films’ storylines.

The new movie, Tron: Ares, takes place in a realistic, near-future world and tells the story of what happens when a highly sophisticated computer program breaks free from its digital environment and interacts with humans. This film differs from earlier Tron movies by focusing on a new character, Ares – a powerful digital being played by Jared Leto – rather than revisiting familiar faces.

Ares, created by Julian Dillinger, is presented as the ideal, easily replaceable soldier – a thinking being built to be controlled and able to adapt to any situation. The movie explores ideas about who we are, constant monitoring, and the increasingly unclear difference between artificial intelligence and actual awareness.

Why Tron: Ares Was A Box Office Bomb

Visually, Tron: Ares stays true to the look and feel of the Tron movies, but director Joachim Rønning aimed for a more serious and realistic atmosphere. The film references past installments, but it mostly tells a new story, moving away from the nostalgic style of Tron: Legacy and embracing a harsher, more intense visual approach.

The filmmakers hoped that a fresh approach would draw in viewers who weren’t familiar with the world of Tron, but they also worried about disappointing longtime fans who wanted to see strong ties to the original films. Unfortunately, this gamble didn’t work. Despite having an interesting idea, Tron: Ares didn’t do well in theaters and was considered a significant failure for Disney for several reasons.

Marketing issues were a major reason why Tron: Ares didn’t perform well at the box office. The film was released during a busy period with many popular franchises already competing for attention. The advertising focused too much on the movie’s look and not enough on its story or characters, leaving many viewers unsure why this sequel, 15 years after Tron: Legacy, was worth seeing.

Honestly, the movie really had a tough time getting noticed before it came out. It was hard to build excitement, especially for people who didn’t already know and love the original Tron. That lack of buzz definitely hurt its box office, and it only ended up making around $142.2 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

Reviews for Tron: Ares were generally unenthusiastic, with a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While some critics appreciated the film’s attempt to be innovative, others found its concepts weren’t fully developed, which may deter audiences. A major disappointment for many fans was the limited role of Jeff Bridges, who famously played Kevin Flynn in the original Tron movies. His absence was keenly felt and couldn’t be overlooked, even by dedicated franchise followers.

As a big fan of the original Tron, I felt like Jeff Bridges having a smaller role really signaled they weren’t trying to continue the story we all loved. It felt like a conscious decision to move in a completely different direction, and honestly, it made the film feel pretty disconnected from everything I enjoyed about the Tron universe.

Tron: Ares Is Finding Redemption On Streaming

After its release on Disney+ on January 7th, Tron: Ares quickly became a hit. It rose through the U.S. rankings to become the most-watched film on the platform, even beating out popular movies like Avatar: The Way of Water. Many viewers who didn’t see it in theaters are now watching it at home, without having to worry about the cost or commitment of going to a movie theater.

The release timing of Tron: Ares on Disney+ was beneficial for the film. It launched during a slower period for movie releases, meaning Disney+ subscribers were more likely to check out a big sci-fi movie like it, without competing with new blockbusters in theaters.

This connects to how people often watch movies when streaming. They tend to be more forgiving and willing to try out films that aren’t perfect but have interesting ideas. Many are now seeing Tron: Ares as a bold attempt at science fiction, rather than a complete disappointment. Because of this, the film actually works well as a standalone story on streaming platforms.

This movie works particularly well for streaming because of its mood and style. The deliberate, unhurried pace and immersive storytelling are enhanced when viewers can watch at their own speed, pausing or rewatching scenes as they please. What might have felt detached in a theater becomes more captivating when enjoyed at home.

Is Tron: Ares’ Disney+ Success Enough To Continue The Franchise?

Okay, so Tron: Ares is really taking off on Disney+, and it’s got me wondering if this could finally save the Tron franchise. Honestly, after the last movie flopped so badly in theaters – it just didn’t make enough money worldwide – a lot of people, myself included, thought a fourth Tron film was a lost cause. Disney usually needs a big theatrical hit before they even think about making a sequel, so this streaming success feels like a game-changer.

Streaming numbers are now playing a bigger role in deciding what gets made. The popularity of Disney+ shows there’s still interest in Tron, even if people aren’t going to movie theaters to see it. But bringing Tron back would need a strong vision and a good balance between what fans love about the original and fresh, new ideas. Instead of risking a big-budget movie, streaming might be a better way to explore the Tron universe with smaller, more focused shows or series.

Rather than signaling the end of the Tron franchise, Tron: Ares could actually be a fresh start. Its surprising popularity suggests that fans are simply watching content on different platforms now. Whether Disney recognizes this shift will decide if Tron stays a niche favorite or becomes a major science fiction series.

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2026-01-13 22:20