Tron: Ares Movie Review – Jared Leto’s Digital World Shines Visually, But Emotionally Feels Like a Glitch in the System!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Star Cast: Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Gillian Anderson, Jodie Turner-Smith
Director: Joachim Rønning
Runtime: 119 Minutes
Available On: Theatrical Release
Language: English (with subtitles)
Intro: Tron Returns… But Did We Really Need It?
When Disney announced Tron: Ares, fans were excited but also confused — “Wait, do we really need another Tron movie?”
The first Tron (1982) was a cult classic — a bold experiment that defined digital storytelling. Tron: Legacy (2010) brought back the neon lights and Daft Punk magic, but it couldn’t live up to expectations.
Now, after more than a decade, Jared Leto steps into the grid as Ares in a visually stunning yet narratively hollow experience.
Story: Digital World Meets Real Emotions
Tron: Ares takes place years after Legacy, where the digital and human worlds are no longer separate.
Jared Leto’s Ares — a self-aware program — is sent from the digital grid into the real world. His mission? To establish peace and understanding between AI and humans.
Sounds fascinating, right? But sadly, the execution doesn’t live up to the concept. The story quickly turns into a light sci-fi adventure, more family-friendly than thought-provoking. It feels like watching an extended pilot episode of a big-budget Disney+ series.
There’s action, some emotional beats, and great visuals — but the heart and depth that could’ve made this a legendary comeback are missing.
Script Analysis: Visually Strong, Emotionally Weak
The writing of Tron: Ares is its biggest flaw.
While the concept of digital consciousness and AI-human interaction has immense potential, the script plays it too safe. The dialogues are simple, the emotional arcs are underdeveloped, and the characters rarely feel real or layered.
The tone also feels confused — sometimes dark and serious, sometimes childishly optimistic.
You can sense that the film was aiming for a mass-appeal balance, but in doing so, it lost the identity that made Tron unique in the first place.
It’s not that the story doesn’t make sense — it does — but it’s far too predictable.
Themes like AI ethics, creation, and self-awareness are touched upon but never explored deeply. It’s all surface-level drama wrapped in gorgeous visuals.
Performances: Jared Leto’s Presence Shines but Feels Underused
Jared Leto as Ares looks like he was born to be inside a Tron film — sleek, mysterious, and futuristic. His performance, however, is more visual than emotional.
He speaks less, moves gracefully, and looks ethereal — almost like a digital god — but you never really connect with him.
Greta Lee as Eve Kim brings some much-needed emotion to the film. Her character feels grounded and relatable, especially when contrasted with Ares’ robotic calmness. She’s the only one who feels like a real person in this digital chaos.
Evan Peters adds some quirky energy, though he doesn’t get much screen time. Gillian Anderson and Jodie Turner-Smith do well with what they have, but their roles feel functional rather than memorable.
In short, the performances are good — but they’re limited by the script’s lack of emotional depth.
Direction: Joachim Rønning’s Visual Brilliance Saves the Day
Director Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) knows how to build visually stunning worlds — and he delivers that in spades.
Every frame looks breathtaking — the glowing suits, the neon-lit landscapes, the glassy architecture — it’s all pure eye candy.
But beyond the surface, the film lacks the storytelling control that Rønning usually brings.
It’s visually captivating but narratively weak. The film moves beautifully from scene to scene, but you often feel like you’re watching a trailer for something bigger, not a complete movie.
The pacing is another issue — the first half builds intrigue, the second half drags in exposition. Some emotional moments are rushed, while others linger too long.
Music: Nine Inch Nails Delivers a Sonic Masterpiece
One department where Tron: Ares absolutely kills it is music.
After Tron: Legacy’s Daft Punk soundtrack became iconic, expectations were sky-high — and Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross) live up to them beautifully.
Their score is haunting, powerful, and industrial — giving the film a pulse that’s both cold and emotional. Combined with the film’s exceptional sound design, the music gives Ares a futuristic soul that the writing couldn’t.
When the visuals sync with the beats — it’s pure cinematic bliss.
Visuals & VFX: The Real Star of Tron: Ares
If there’s one reason to watch Tron: Ares, it’s the visual experience.
The movie is stunning from start to finish — from digital cityscapes to glowing motorbike chases. The visual effects are among the best Disney has produced in recent years.
The color palette mixes dark tones with vibrant neon — giving it a uniquely modern yet nostalgic feel. It’s both futuristic and familiar, just like Tron should be.
However, while the film is beautiful to look at, it sometimes feels emotionally empty — like an art exhibition without a story to guide it.
What’s Good
✅ Stunning visuals and world design
✅ Epic background score by Nine Inch Nails
✅ Greta Lee’s emotional performance
✅ A few action sequences that truly impress
✅ Strong sound design and atmosphere
What’s Bad
❌ Weak and predictable story
❌ Emotionally flat characters
❌ Uneven pacing — drags in the middle
❌ Lacks the philosophical edge of earlier Tron films
❌ Feels more like a setup for a series than a standalone film
Loo Break
There are a couple of dialogue-heavy exposition scenes in the second act — perfect time to take a quick break without missing much.
Watch or Not?
Watch it only if you’re a Tron fan or love visually rich sci-fi worlds.
If you’re looking for a deep, emotional, or thought-provoking story — this might not hit the mark.
But if you want a big-screen spectacle with mind-blowing visuals and heart-thumping music — then Tron: Ares deserves one viewing in IMAX.
The Last Word
Tron: Ares is a visual and musical powerhouse wrapped inside a simple, predictable story. It’s a feast for the eyes but a light snack for the mind.
Jared Leto fits perfectly in the digital world but is never allowed to explore his full emotional range. The film shines technically but flickers narratively.
If you go in expecting a visual experience, you’ll enjoy it.
If you go in expecting a great story, you might feel disconnected — just like Ares himself.
Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Tron: Ares is a beautiful-looking reboot that dazzles the senses but doesn’t quite touch the heart.
