Jeff Bridges Invokes The Dude When Asked About (Tron: Ares) Box Office Disappointments, And I Find His Dudeness’ Take Refreshing

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As a huge fan, I was so excited when Disney finally brought Tron back to life with Tron: Ares after all these years – they’ve been trying to reboot it for over a decade! While the movie looked amazing and they really went all out with the budget, it didn’t quite become the massive hit we all hoped for. But honestly, I wasn’t surprised to see Jeff Bridges taking it in stride. He’s just like the Dude – totally cool and unfazed. It’s awesome to see, and it makes me a bigger fan!

Jeff Bridges returned to the world of Tron after over ten years, playing a version of Kevin Flynn in Ares – his first film role in seven years. Despite impressive visuals and the often-controversial Jared Leto, the movie didn’t perform well in theaters, leaving some to wonder if audiences still cared about the Tron universe. When Entertainment Weekly asked about the film’s disappointing reception, Bridges remained calm and thoughtful, saying:

I’ve often disliked a movie initially, only to rewatch it weeks or months later and wonder what I was even thinking! It just goes to show, like The Dude says, it was just my opinion at the time.

Jeff Bridges offers a thoughtful perspective, likely shaped by his experiences playing calm characters and overcoming serious health challenges like cancer and COVID. He recently drew a parallel between the initial reaction to the new Tron: Ares movie and the negative reception Heaven’s Gate received in 1980. Despite being initially considered a failure, Heaven’s Gate later gained recognition as a bold and innovative film that was simply ahead of its time.

The 1980 film Heaven’s Gate is famous for being one of the biggest financial failures in Hollywood history. Directed by Michael Cimino, who had recently won an Oscar for The Deer Hunter, it featured a star-studded cast – including Kris Kristofferson, Jeff Bridges, and Christopher Walken – and cost a whopping $44 million to make. However, it only earned $3.5 million at the box office, becoming a well-known example of a hugely expensive movie that flopped.

Despite being famous for its disastrous initial reception (and unfortunately sharing a name with a controversial group), the film has gained some positive attention from critics recently. Jeff Bridges mentioned a director’s cut of Heaven’s Gate will be shown in theaters this November. This suggests Tron: Ares might also develop a dedicated fanbase over the next three decades.

While Tron: Ares didn’t perform well in theaters, Jeff Bridges’ outlook suggests some films, similar to Heaven’s Gate, simply need time to find an audience. This isn’t ideal for a franchise expecting quick profits, but it offers a positive perspective. Perhaps Ares will gain a dedicated following, prompting Disney to revisit the series. At the very least, Tron fans can continue to hope for another installment.

While it might not be the year’s best film, there are still plenty of good reasons to see Tron: Ares in theaters, as my colleague Hugh Scott noted. It’s visually impressive and features an excellent soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails. You could wait for it to be available on Disney+, but the experience likely won’t be the same as seeing it on the big screen with an audience, no matter how good your home setup is.

It’s unclear if Ares will have a comeback story like Heaven’s Gate, but Jeff Bridges isn’t worried about how well the movie is doing in theaters. Tron: Ares is still showing in cinemas, so see local listings for showtimes. If you’re in the mood for some classic Jeff Bridges films, Heaven’s Gate is available with an Amazon Prime subscription, and The Big Lebowski is streaming on HBO Max.

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2025-10-29 17:40