'Tron: Ares' Crashes with $33.5 Million USD Box Office Debut

Summary

• Disney’s big-budget sci-fi film Tron: Ares debuted with a disappointing $33.5 million USD at the domestic box office
• The Jared Leto-led film had a  global opening of $60.5 million USD is well below expectations for the $180 million USD production
• The soft debut calls into question the future of the franchise, which was intended for a reboot

Disney’s highly anticipated sci-fi sequel, Tron: Ares, has stumbled at the domestic box office, opening to a disappointing $33.5 million USD haul. The debut, which falls well short of already low industry expectations, signals a difficult road ahead for the massive $180 million USD production. While the film took the top spot for the weekend, its performance casts a serious doubt on the future of the Tron franchise.

The opening weekend is significantly lower than its predecessor, Tron: Legacy, which earned $44 million USD in 2010. When adjusted for inflation, Tron: Ares only pulled in roughly half of its predecessor’s opening, a clear sign that the film failed to attract the broad audience Disney was banking on. Globally, the film’s total stands at a meager $60.5 million USD, a disappointing return that puts the film’s break-even point far out of reach without a major recovery.

The box office performance is a surprising twist, as the film received some favorable reviews and a B+ CinemaScore from audiences. However, the tepid critical reception and the film’s distance from the last installment may have contributed to its soft opening. The weak debut for Jared Leto‘s film comes amid a challenging box office environment, and leaves Disney with another blockbuster misfire for the year. Earlier this summer, Leto was also accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, including minors.