Top Hollywood Agent Slams ‘Tron: Ares’ – Even Ryan Gosling Can’t Save It: “No One Asked for This”
Tron: Ares, the science fiction action film and the third installment in the Tron series, has struggled at the box office despite high expectations.
Directed by Joachim Rønning, the movie stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro, and Gillian Anderson, with Jeff Bridges returning as Kevin Flynn.
The film has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 55% of 198 critics gave it a positive review, with the consensus reading: “A sensory feast of vivid neon hues and a hypnotic soundtrack, Tron: Ares is gorgeous to behold but too narratively programmatic to achieve an authentically human dimension.”
Metacritic gave the film a score of 48 out of 100 based on 44 reviews, indicating “mixed or average” feedback. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the movie a “B+” grade, matching the scores of previous Tron films.
Tron: Ares opened with lower-than-expected numbers at the box office. It earned $4.8 million from advanced screenings and Thursday previews, and $14.3 million on its first domestic day. Opening weekend estimates were revised to $35 million, and the film ultimately debuted to $33.5 million in the U.S. and Canada. Worldwide, it has grossed $60 million, underperforming compared to Tron: Legacy’s $44 million opening.
This October, worlds will collide. #TronAres. Only in theaters 10.10.25 pic.twitter.com/9Q1RAUBHBU
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) April 5, 2025
Some in Hollywood are blaming Jared Leto for the film’s poor performance.
According to a top agency partner speaking to insiders, Leto’s ability to carry a movie has been in question since the 2022 flop Morbius, which earned $39 million domestically and $167 million globally. “In a world where Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch are having a hard time getting lead roles, why would you even go to a person who can’t open a movie and who has question marks around him as a person?” the source said.
The same insider suggested that Leto’s star power has cooled significantly. “You could have had Ryan Gosling, it wasn’t going to work,” they added. “No one asked for this reboot. If you say, ‘Tron: Ares is good, we just needed a different actor,’ you’re deluding yourself.”
While Leto is taking some of the heat, industry experts agree that the flop is not his responsibility alone.
The story and timing of the reboot also contributed to the film’s struggles, showing that even big names and flashy visuals can’t always guarantee success.
It seems clear that Tron: Ares was facing an uphill battle from the start. While the visuals and cast are impressive, the market may not have been ready for another Tron film. The criticism of Leto feels harsh, as even major stars likely couldn’t have saved this reboot. Do you agree that this movie was doomed regardless of the lead actor? Share your thoughts in the comments.
