Tron Ares Box Office Opens Soft as Roofman Struggles in Debut Weekend

Disney’s much-hyped sci-fi sequel Tron: Ares has opened to a lukewarm start at the North American box office, collecting an estimated $35 million to $37 million over its opening weekend. The film, led by Jared Leto, fell below early projections that had suggested a $45M–$50M debut. Meanwhile, Paramount and Miramax’s star-studded heist comedy Roofman also underwhelmed, opening at just $8 million.

The disappointing numbers highlight ongoing shifts in post-pandemic moviegoing behavior, with audiences increasingly selective about theatrical releases. Despite Disney’s heavy marketing push and strong brand recognition, Tron: Ares failed to match the $44 million debut of its 2010 predecessor, Tron: Legacy.

Tron Ares Box Office Struggles Despite Big Budget and Hype

Tron: Ares entered theaters with high expectations, fueled by a reported $180 million production budget and an aggressive promotional campaign that included Comic-Con stunts and a Nine Inch Nails concert at the premiere. Yet, its debut tally of $35M–$37M suggests audiences weren’t as eager to return to the Grid as Disney hoped.

The film earned $14.3 million on Friday, including $4.8 million from early previews, and secured a B+ CinemaScore, matching Tron: Legacy. Audience exits show most viewers (47%) attended because it’s a Tron movie, while 41% were drawn by the sci-fi appeal and 33% by the visual effects. However, PostTrak scores showed only 57% “definite recommend”, signaling mixed reactions.

Disney hoped the sequel would kickstart the fall box office, but the turnout was overshadowed by past genre hits like The Conjuring: Last Rites ($84M) and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle ($70M). The studio is now counting on strong word-of-mouth and the extended Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend to boost totals, especially with 45% of K–12 schools and 22% of colleges closed on Monday.

Despite those hopes, the numbers reflect broader trends in the sci-fi genre. While blockbusters like Avatar ($77M) and Star Wars films soar, other expensive sci-fi entries often hit a ceiling. Films like Blade Runner 2049 ($32.7M) and Furiosa ($26.3M) faced similar hurdles. Social media buzz for Tron: Ares also lagged behind competitors, reaching 281 million across platforms — far below Dune: Part Two (575M) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (891M).

Demographically, the audience skewed 68% male with 52% aged 18–34. Kids under 12 rated it 85% positive with a 52% must-see score, lower than usual for family-friendly sci-fi. Premium formats (PLFs and IMAX) accounted for 55% of ticket sales, with Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood leading all venues with $105,000.

Roofman Opens Low With $8M as Adult Films Struggle

Alongside Tron: Ares, Channing Tatum’s new film Roofman also debuted to modest results, grossing just $8 million across 3,362 theaters. The romantic caper earned a B+ CinemaScore but struggled to attract large audiences despite Tatum’s star power. Its Friday earnings were $3.2 million.

Made on a relatively modest $19 million budget, the film drew a mostly male crowd (53%) and saw 38% turnout from Tatum’s female fanbase over 25. About 41% of audiences attended with a partner, suggesting its positioning as a date-night movie resonated with a small but targeted segment.

Still, the numbers are in line with other mid-tier Tatum projects like Logan Lucky ($7.6M) and Haywire ($8.4M). Paramount hopes word-of-mouth will give the film staying power in coming weeks, particularly outside major metropolitan areas where it performed strongest.

What This Means for Hollywood’s Fall Box Office

The muted starts for both Tron: Ares and Roofman underscore the industry’s ongoing struggle to lure audiences back to theaters post-pandemic. Despite a fall box office up 2% year-over-year at $674 million, studios are seeing diminishing returns even on established IPs and star-driven films.

Audience priorities have shifted, with streaming and cost considerations weighing heavily on ticket-buying decisions. Franchise fatigue also plays a role — many viewers criticized Tron: Ares as a “soft reboot” with a recycled story, while others compared it unfavorably to the visual artistry of Blade Runner 2049 or the originality of Ghost in the Shell.

Final Total Collection Update: As of Sunday, October 12, Tron: Ares stands at an estimated $36.2 million domestic and $72.4 million worldwide. Roofman totals $8 million domestic, with a global figure of $13.5 million.

Tron: Ares box office performance will be closely watched in the coming weeks. Strong overseas markets or extended runs could help Disney recover costs, but for now, the film’s start is significantly below expectations.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: How much did Tron: Ares make on opening weekend?

Tron: Ares opened with an estimated $35M–$37M domestically and about $72.4M worldwide.

Q2: What is the production budget for Tron: Ares?

The film’s reported production budget is between $180 million and $200 million.

Q3: How did Roofman perform at the box office?

Roofman debuted with $8 million domestically and $13.5 million worldwide, below expectations.

Q4: What was Tron: Ares’ CinemaScore and audience reaction?

The film earned a B+ CinemaScore with 57% of audiences saying they’d recommend it.

Q5: Will Tron: Ares improve over the holiday weekend?

It may see a boost thanks to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, with schools and colleges closed Monday.