I had the pleasure of watching this movie yesterday in IMAX 3D. I took my 7-year-old son so we could share this unique sci-fi memory together. He had a blast. Watching his face light up during the light cycle scenes made it all worth it.
Before getting into the review, I want to call out that this movie tells a separate story from Tron: Legacy. If you go in expecting a sequel, this movie isn’t it. There are a few nods to Legacy, but Ares stands on its own. Think of it as a fresh take on the Tron world.
Acting
This isn’t meant to be a Shakespeare-level drama. The range of acting is limited, and that’s fine for what this movie is trying to do. The characters are either human or programs, and that line stays clear throughout.
Jared Leto does a good job as Ares, a program that goes rogue. The character is exactly what you’d expect: curious, powerful, and unpredictable. Leto gets a lot of flak online for being over-the-top or hard to take seriously, but he fits this role. As Ares, he plays a program learning to navigate emotion, and that balance between cold logic and curiosity works in his favor. It’s one of his more restrained performances, and it helps the movie. Greta Lee plays her part well, grounding the story when it starts to drift too far into the digital world.
I didn’t expect to see Hasan Minhaj, and he’s nowhere in the trailers. He plays a convincing tech CEO, which fits his personality and timing. His role is small, but it’s fun to see him in a big-budget sci-fi film.
The standout performance is Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger. He plays a confident and obsessive villain, someone who truly believes in what he’s doing. Peters brings energy to every scene he’s in and ends up stealing the spotlight.
It was also great to see Gillian Anderson as Julian’s mother. Having been a huge fan of The X-Files, I enjoyed seeing her in this kind of role again. Unlike her son, her character actually has a moral compass, which adds an interesting layer to the story.
Another character worth mentioning is Athena (played by Jodie Turner-Smith), who brings heart to the film and balances the tone.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Tron: Ares was handled entirely by Nine Inch Nails, and you can feel their signature sound all over it. It’s dark, layered, and full of texture — a mix of heavy industrial beats, deep synths, and distorted ambience that gives the digital world a pulse. It fits the tone of the movie and adds a sense of tension that keeps you on edge.
At the same time, it can feel like too much in certain moments. Some scenes are so sonically dense that they almost compete with the visuals. It’s an aggressive score, and while it creates atmosphere, it could’ve used a few quieter stretches to let the emotion breathe.
There’s one sequence where NIN absolutely nails it — when Ares goes rogue and takes Eve to the transfer portal. The music hits a perfect blend of chaos and beauty. It captures that feeling of rebellion mixed with purpose, and it makes the scene unforgettable.
Overall, it’s a strong soundtrack that elevates the film, even if it occasionally leans too far into its own intensity. If you’re a fan of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, you’ll love it. If not, you’ll still walk away remembering how it felt — and that’s what matters most.
Entertainment
This is the main reason to watch the movie. It’s entertaining from start to finish. The story is simple and easy to follow, which makes it accessible to everyone. I’m tired of movies that try too hard to be complex or clever. Ares doesn’t do that. It just focuses on delivering a good time.
The IMAX 3D experience was excellent. The visuals were clean, the sound design was immersive, and the pacing never dragged. You don’t have to be a Tron fan to enjoy it. My son followed it easily, which tells me the story works for all ages.
Sci-Fi Goodness
This is where Tron: Ares shines. The production design is stunning. The environments are sleek, the neon visuals pop, and the camera work gives you a sense of movement that feels alive. You can tell the filmmakers cared about the look and sound of this world.
The soundtrack has moments that echo the electronic pulse Daft Punk brought to Legacy, but NIN takes it in a darker, heavier direction. Heavy synths, deep bass, and clean beats pull you right into the digital grid. It’s not as iconic as Legacy’s score, but it gets close.
What I liked most is how the movie explores the relationship between humans and programs without over complicating things. It’s thoughtful, but not preachy.
Would I watch it again?
Yes. This is one of those movies I’d watch again, especially in IMAX. There are small details I probably missed the first time. My son’s already asking to see it again, which says a lot. On that note, I wish Tron: Legacy was also in theaters as I missed that on the big-screen.
OpenFilmmaker.com Rating
⭐ 8.0 / 10
Pros: Great visuals, solid pacing, memorable characters, and an easy-to-follow story.
Cons: A few characters could use more development, and the story plays it a bit safe.
Overall, Tron: Ares is worth watching in theaters, especially in IMAX. It’s a clean, visually driven sci-fi film that entertains without trying to be more than it is.
