"TRON: Ares," the third movie in the "Tron" franchise and a 2025 release, received mixed reviews. It is praised for its spectacular design, fast pacing, thoughtful writing, and neon-hued visual style, as well as a trance-inducing techno score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Jared Leto stars as Ares, a digital being and assassin who can move between the digital world and reality. The film explores the relationship between AI and humanity with philosophical undertones and sophisticated action sequences.
On the positive side, critics highlight the fresh narrative approach separate from previous sequels, enhanced visuals, robust action sequences, and memorable performances, particularly by Leto and Greta Lee. It has a certain stylistic flair considered by some as a notable leap in director Joachim Rønning's career. However, some found the movie to be mediocre, with clunky dialogue, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of novelty or depth compared to its predecessors. It carries a nostalgic feel but struggles with narrative execution and character development.
Rotten Tomatoes gives it about a 54-55% rating, indicating a split reception, with some critics calling it a fun but flawed entry, while others see it as an uninspired franchise sequel.
In summary, "TRON: Ares" is visually stunning and ambitious with some strong performances, especially Jared Leto's as Ares. Yet it polarizes viewers with its narrative shortcomings and mixed character portrayals, making it a movie that fans of the series and sci-fi visual spectacle might appreciate, but that may leave others wanting more.