Tron: Ares took a long time to arrive, and now that it is here, concerns are already being raised about its box office collection. The critical reception has been lukewarm so far, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 57% score. While the fan score is significantly higher for the film, is it performing well enough to be profitable at the box office? Here is a breakdown.
How much does Tron: Ares need to make to be profitable at box office?
Apart from the long and winding path that Tron: Ares took to finally reach the screen, the primary consideration for its profitability is its budget and current earnings. The sci-fi movie has a reported budget of approximately $180 million.
Movies today must earn at least 2.5 times their budget to turn a profit. Tron: Ares will therefore need to earn at least $450 million to achieve success.
Considering factors like marketing and international box office numbers, $450 million is just enough to make the film profitable. It will still not be a major success if it earns under $500 million. The film has a hefty budget and, consequently, a hefty target to meet.
As of October 13, 2025, the movie has earned $33.5 million in North America and $27 million internationally, significantly less than what the makers would have expected. The total box office haul currently stands at $60.5 million.
Predictions had hinted at a $40-45 million domestic opening weekend, with an $80-90 million global total. But the film appears to have underperformed by a considerable margin. Interestingly, the film is not facing any major competition at the box office, which makes the underperformance even more notable.
At this point, Tron: Ares is unlikely to turn profitable even if subsequent weeks see an uptick in earnings. It seems this will not be a major success for Disney. There should be more clarity about its performance in the upcoming two weeks.
Tron: Ares is currently playing in theatres across the USA.
