TRON: ARES (2025)

Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Joachim Rønning
Cast: Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan
Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins
Rating: PG (Some Violence)
Released By: Walt Disney Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 9 October 2025

Synopsis: Tron: Ares follows a highly sophisticated program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.

Movie Review:

Disney’s Tron franchise has always been about one thing above all else—visual spectacle. From the neon-drenched original in 1982 to Tron: Legacy’s glossy revival in 2010, each film has pushed the boundaries of what digital worlds could look like on screen. Tron: Ares, the latest chapter, continues that tradition with a vengeance. It’s an audiovisual feast that feels like being plugged directly into the motherboard of a dream. The light, texture, and kinetic energy on display are staggering—every frame hums with sleek, futuristic precision. If cinema were judged purely on how good pixels can look exploding in slow motion, Tron: Ares would be an instant masterpiece.

Fronting the film is Jared Leto as Ares, a self-aware program sent on a mission that blurs the boundaries between digital and human existence. Leto’s casting brings undeniable star power—he looks great under the glow of a circuit suit—but thankfully, Tron: Ares doesn’t demand much acting heavy-lifting from him. His calm, enigmatic presence fits the role, and director Joachim Rønning wisely leans on Leto’s charisma rather than overcomplicating the character. Ares doesn’t need to be Hamlet; he just needs to look cool while riding a lightcycle through a storm of data. Mission accomplished.

The real surprise, though, is Greta Lee. Best known for her sharp, subtle work in arthouse gems like Past Lives, Lee makes an unexpectedly smooth transition into blockbuster territory. She brings an emotional grounding that the Tron universe has often lacked, playing a scientist whose moral conflicts bridge the gap between our world and the digital one. Lee has a knack for balancing sincerity with an edge of irony—she seems aware of how absurdly grand the Tron mythology can be, yet she plays it straight enough to make it matter. Her performance gives the film’s neon-drenched world something it’s rarely had before: warmth.

Plot-wise, Tron: Ares doesn’t reinvent the wheel—or the lightcycle. There are still identity disks, philosophical musings about AI consciousness, and plenty of scenes where people shout techno-babble in front of holographic interfaces. But the storytelling is tighter this time, and the action sequences—especially a mid-film chase through a collapsing data corridor—are thrilling enough to make your pulse sync with the Daft Punk-inspired score.

At two hours, it moves briskly, though you might occasionally wish for more substance beneath the spectacle. Still, that spectacle delivers. Watching Tron: Ares feels like being handed a pair of 3D glasses for the future. And when the credits roll, you might find yourself having the urge to visit Disneyland’s Tron Lightcycle Run ride. The film practically doubles as a recruitment video for Disney’s Imagineering team—only, it’s one you’ll gladly sign up for.

In the end, Tron: Ares isn’t the deepest movie you’ll see this year, but it’s a dazzling return to a world where imagination and code collide. With jaw-dropping visuals, a grounded performance from Greta Lee, and just enough Jared Leto to keep the circuits humming, it’s proof that sometimes, style really is substance—and that The Grid still has plenty of power left to spare.

Movie Rating:

(Dazzling with electrifying visuals, this movie is an eye-popping sci-fi ride that’ll make you want to race straight to Disneyland’s Tron Lightcycle Run)

Review by John Li