TRON: ARES (2025) – A Dazzling Digital Revolution in Cinema That Pushes the Franchise Into New Realms

Over four decades have passed since the original Tron introduced audiences to its mesmerizing digital universe, and fifteen years since Tron: Legacy expanded its legacy with dazzling new visuals. While the inaugural film may not have garnered commercial acclaim, its avant-garde visual effects and unique stylistic flair ensured its place as a cult favourite. The second installment capitalised on leaps in CGI, delivering a more polished and financially successful outing.

Now, Tron: Ares arrives, leveraging the latest cinematic technology to deliver an even more breathtaking spectacle. The franchise’s signature premise—humans venturing into the digital world—evolves dramatically. This time, the boundary separating reality and simulation blurs further as digital soldiers cross into our world. Two rival corporations, each with vastly different motives, drive the narrative: one eager to weaponize the breakthrough, the other determined to harness it for the greater good, such as medical innovation and food security. The competition intensifies when one side achieves a major breakthrough, triggering a high-stakes race brimming with corporate espionage and desperate gambits.

Admittedly, the plot may not break new ground, but Tron: Ares compensates with a relentless cascade of visual and auditory delights. On a colossal IMAX screen, the experience is nothing short of immersive: action sequences pulse with energy, amplified by an electrifying soundtrack courtesy of Nine Inch Nails. Their contribution echoes the iconic Daft Punk score from Tron: Legacy, yet introduces a distinct soundscape that perfectly complements the frenetic CGI and digital effects, perhaps even surpassing its predecessor in auditory innovation.

The film also boasts an impressive ensemble cast. Evan Peters and Gillian Anderson excel as the ambitious mother-son duo determined to exploit the technology for military dominance. Greta Lee, familiar to viewers of The Morning Show and Past Lives, shines as the principled leader advocating for benevolent uses of the technology. Jeff Bridges returns as Kevin Flynn, the franchise’s sage originator of digital crossing, dispensing cryptic wisdom with gravitas like a seasoned Yoda. Stealing the spotlight, however, is Jared Leto as the AI super soldier: his nuanced performance brings depth to a character wrestling with newfound empathy and moral awakening after emerging from a villainous corporate computer system and entering the real world. He also looks super cool in the updated attire complete with fluorescent-like glowing strips.

Director Joachim Renning has succeeded in crafting Tron: Ares to stand out among the sea of recent dismal Hollywood big budget block busters. A triumph in pop science fiction filmmaking. It refuses to pander with simplistic dialogue or gratuitous humor, instead offering a smart, visually stunning, and sonically powerful adventure that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. In a series defined by technical innovation, this latest entry is a bold leap forward—an audio-visual extravaganza that redefines what’s possible on screen. It’s ending teases more to come. Let’s hope we don’t need to wait another 10 years for that to happen!