Get ready for a thrilling ride as Disney’s ‘Tron: Ares’ sparks excitement with nearly $5 million in previews, but here’s where it gets controversial: can this sci-fi sequel truly reignite the franchise’s spark? Disney reports that ‘Tron: Ares’ has raked in $4.8 million from early screenings, including limited Wednesday shows and previews starting at 2 PM yesterday. While this is a solid start, the real question is whether it will meet its projected $40 million opening weekend—something the industry desperately needs after a lackluster fall season. Despite being 2% ahead of last year’s box office totals, the season has been underwhelming, with star-studded adult films like Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine and Margot Robbie’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey failing to impress. Adding to the challenge, ‘Tron: Ares’ faces stiff competition from MLB playoffs and NFL games this weekend, though its 86% Rotten Tomatoes audience score—a significant jump from Tron: Legacy’s 64%—offers a glimmer of hope.
And this is the part most people miss: while ‘Tron: Ares’ previews outpace Tron: Legacy’s $3.6 million, that was during the era of midnight screenings. Today, it’s more comparable to fan-driven reboots like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ($6.6 million previews) and Alien: Romulus ($6.5 million). It also falls short of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which pulled in $5.8 million. Advance ticket sales for ‘Tron: Ares’ were $7 million, similar to Alien: Romulus, which opened to $42 million—but will it follow suit? Directed by Joachim Rønning and produced by star Jared Leto and former Disney Head of Production Sean Bailey, the film’s $180 million budget (before marketing) raises the stakes.
Meanwhile, Miramax and Paramount’s Roofman, a romantic caper starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, collected $1 million from 2,800 locations during its 7 PM previews. Audiences awarded it 4 out of 5 stars on PostTrak, and while its Rotten Tomatoes score sits at 82%, it’s worth noting that Tatum’s previous film, Dog, earned $1.26 million in Valentine’s Day previews before a $14.8 million 3-day opening—though Roofman’s R rating could limit its appeal compared to Dog’s PG-13. As Roofman expands to 3,362 theaters today, the question remains: can it outshine its competition? Is ‘Tron: Ares’ a must-see reboot, or just another missed opportunity? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take!
