Tron: Ares Could Lose $132M — Disney Should Copy Predator’s Low‑Budget Comeback
Two weeks after its release, Tron: Ares is tracking as a sizable financial loss and a middling critical performer. Industry reporting shows the film’s cost grew well beyond earlier figures, while box office returns remain far below what the studio likely forecasted.
- Box office and budget
- Critical reception
- Franchise comparison: Predator example
- What the reports say about Tron’s future
Box office and budget
According to Deadline, Tron: Ares is expected to lose more than $132 million. Initially, the film’s reported production budget was around $170–$180 million, but Deadline reports that figure rose to about $220 million. In addition, marketing costs are reported to be roughly $100 million or more.
After two weeks at the global box office, Tron: Ares has earned just over $100 million worldwide. By contrast, Tron: Legacy grossed approximately $409 million worldwide when it was released in 2010.
Critical reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Tron: Ares currently sits at 53%. For more details, see the film’s Rotten Tomatoes page: Rotten Tomatoes — Tron: Ares.
Franchise comparison: Predator example
Industry observers have pointed to the recent Predator projects as a different model. For example, Dan Trachtenberg directed Prey, which was produced for about $60 million. That film was followed by other Predator projects, including an animated anthology and a new theatrical entry, Predator: Badlands, which is reported as the priciest Predator movie at roughly $100 million.
Trachtenberg’s Predator work shows a mix of platforms and budgets: a smaller-budget streaming movie, an animated series, and a larger theatrical film. The varied approaches demonstrate that studios have used different scales and formats to keep a franchise active.
What the reports say about Tron’s future
Reports indicate that, because Tron: Ares is underperforming both critically and commercially, the franchise’s future could be in question. For coverage noting possible uncertainty about continuation, see The Hollywood Reporter.
In summary, current facts show: higher-than-reported production costs, substantial marketing spending, box office returns well under those combined costs, and a mixed critical response. Consequently, industry commentary has compared alternate, lower-risk franchise strategies used elsewhere in Hollywood.
