When Tron came out in 1982, it was a clever-futuristic way of looking at the future of the cloud and computing. The effects, which probably wowed audiences at the time, look dated now. And the story was something. When Tron: Legacy bowed in 2010 it greatly improved the graphics and tried to add a deeper story.
Now, with Tron: Ares, the film has excellent graphics and a totally new story. This one focused on some of the modern issues, like corporations dominating the country and the rise of Artificial Intelligence. But does it work? Let’s dive in.
The new film picks up in the modern era. Sam Flynn has left Encom in the hands of Eve Kim (Greta Lee), who along with her now-deceased sister looked to not only revive gaming but find the technology to bring the company and the world into the future. But they have a chief rival in Dillinger. The company is now in the hands of his grandson, Julian (Evan Peters).
Just as it’s been since the 1980s, the companies are at odds. Not only are they competing in technology, but they also have different ideologies. Eve hopes to use AI to make the world a better place. Julian has created the greatest military program ever—Ares (Jared Leto)—and he hopes to bring him to life in the real world as the ultimate soldier.
But, to do that, Julian needs the permanence code. Eve is also searching for that as a means of using her technology to heal the world. The race is who will get it first and how they will use it to change the world. But as Julian deploys Ares to bring Eve to heel, he begins to think for himself and see the possibilities of the world differently.
A visual feast in Tron: Ares
The last installment of Tron brought the world into a modern era. It spawned a lot of offshoots, including a popular Disney World attraction. This one goes even further in bringing the technology to life. That includes the various film formats—including 3D—that bring the viewer into the story in a new way.
When it comes to Tron, I’ve never had a problem with the visuals. This film, directed by Joaquin Ronning, is often stunning. The opening sequence dives deep into the world of AI. And the way the film builds the Encom grid, and the Dillinger grid is exciting. But this one also brings the grid out into the real world. In a couple lofty action sequences, it does so in an engaging way.
The visuals and the action sequences drive Tron: Ares. They are also often the best parts of the film. I really liked the big action set pieces in the middle, on the grid, and in the third act. That kept me engaged throughout the run time to see where it would go.
Better characters
While this film does bring back Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) in a key sequence, it largely moves on from the family at the center of the first two films. It references Sam, his son, who was the protagonist of the second film. And there is a closing sequence that seems to tie into Tron: Legacy for potential future exploration.
But this one is about new characters and a new mission. It’s about Ares, the program with feeling, and Eve, the human who sees the best possibilities in this new technology. The film is at its best when they are playing off each other as Lee and Leto were the most interesting parts of the new film.
Peters is fine in the villain role, but the film largely wastes him. It also wastes Gillian Anderson, as his one-note mother, and Jodie Turner-Smith as a one-not program that becomes the main antagonist in the third act. Those parts don’t work as well as they could despite the fact, I liked the story a touch better here than in previous Tron films.
Ultimately, this film comes down to corporations trying to rule the world through their vision of AI. That feels a little wonky in 2025. The film also feels largely pro AI as a potential utopia, which feels at odds with mass public sentiment. That might make it hard for audiences to connect.
In the end, Tron: Ares is a film with some stunning visuals and some great action set pieces. I enjoyed the performances of the leads more than I expected and was engaged throughout the run time. This will be a crowd pleaser for many but falls short of being an iconic film.
Tron: Ares opens nationwide on Friday, Oct. 10.