Tron: Ares is a middling sci-fi film, but its visual flair is satisfying on the big screen. The Nine Inch Nails’ score is one of the best of the year, and the visual effects of Tron: Ares build on the franchises’ strong legacy of strong visual effects and sleek production design.

Eighties nostalgia is all over Tron: Ares, a quaint throwback to the cultural peak of 80s nostalgia in the 2010s. Some of the most memorable moments of the film are Jared Leto’s Patrick-Bateman-like delivery of describing how much he loves 80’s synth pop, particularly Depeche Mode (valid). During a pivotal moment, Eve (Greta Lee) breaks into Flynn’s (Jeff Bridge’s) office, preserved in its 80’s dust. Ares (Leto) even plays with a Rubik Cube. And yet, the film’s concerns are distinctly modern. ENCOM is a tech company led by Eve (Lee), and the company wants to use technology (essentially AI) to cure cancer, solve crop disruptions, and advance science. The key to this goal is the “permanence code.” Eve is in a race for this code with Julian’s (Evan Peters) company “Dillinger”. Dillinger wants to use this code for weapons development. Dillinger creates Ares (Leto) a “perfect soldier.” The catch is that he can only last in the real world, outside the digital world of “the Grid,” for 29 minutes. 

The highlight of Tron: Ares is Nine Inch Nails’ score. Notably, this is the first score to the band’s credits, rather than using Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ names. The score has emotional highs and lows – this variety of synth and piano is typical of their fantastic work in film. The band is perfectly suited for the 80’s synth that marries the visuals and subject matter of the film. A real highlight of the film is “I Know You Can Feel It,” a rare song on the album with vocals. It’s a slow, brooding track from the band that builds in intensity. One of the best choices the Tron Ares filmmakers made was pairing this song with a light cycle chase scene, it’s the stand-out of the film.  

The visual effects of Tron: Ares build on the franchises’ history of strong VFX. Most of all, I was impressed with the combination of this VFX work with the production design – essentially the visual language of this world. The art department used a simple contrast of blue / red to represent each corporation’s “Grid,” in addition to clean lines and neon. The sleek red and black of the Grid call to mind the iconic throne-room battle sequence of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Some visual moments are less tasteful – the “Master Commander’s” rendering is a bit on-the-nose and Bridge’s weird filter makes him look a bit odd. Overall, Tron: Ares has few sludgy gray scenes that are typical for modern films of this scale, instead using its crisp digital cinematography to capture clear night scenes and beautiful close-ups of Lee.  

One of the highlights of the film is when Ares (Leto) enters the old-school “Grid,” modeled after the original 1982’s Tron. It’s a fun sequence, with a little “bit” creature leading Ares through the grid. This scene did lead me to the thought that often comes to mind when watching legacy sequels – why am I not just watching the original film? The actual story of the 2025 Tron film is middling. Leto, while perfectly cast as what is essentially a robot, is tough to watch lead a giant franchise film. This is a pattern that follows his attempts with Morbius and Suicide Squad. Lee is inspired casting, particularly as this is her first non-voice work on a giant franchise film. She is infinitely charming and excels at comedy, and she does her best at adding some levity to the film. Jodie Turner-Smith ends up being the best in the film. She is perfectly suited for this robot soldier warrior, with dark makeup and gorgeous height. She keeps her British accent, accentuated by a monotone delivery. Almost everyone in the cast has low moments when delivering somewhat corny dialogue, but Turner-Smith never has a low moment. She delivers the best line of the film: “We gave a thousand lives for the Grid, you only gave one.” 

Tron: Ares continues the annual tradition of Reznor and Ross creating one of the best scores of the year. Its synth score will continue to be one I gravitate to. The clean visual effects of Tron: Ares are also some of the best of the year. The VFX team deserves all the praise for continuing the franchises’ legacy of pushing VFX forward. Unfortunately, the plot of the film is not as intense, varied, or exciting as it needs to be. I know I was not the only person in my screening who felt the same, as when the post-credit scene started, I was the only person in my screening who stuck around to watch.

Grade: C

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: Best Visual Effects
Should be Considered: Best Original Score

Where to Watch: In Theaters