In a remarkable turnaround, one of Disney's most significant cinematic disappointments from 2025 has surged to become the number one film on its streaming service, finding a massive new audience online.
From Box Office Bomb to Streaming Champion
Tron: Ares, the third chapter in the Tron series, premiered in cinemas in October 2025 to a lukewarm critical and commercial reception. The film, which cost an estimated $180-200 million (£133-150m) to produce, only managed to gross $142.2 million (£105.5m) globally. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 'Rotten' score of just 53%.
However, its fortunes have dramatically changed since arriving on Disney's streaming platform. According to the latest analytics from FlixPatrol, as of 11 January 2026, Tron: Ares boasts a popularity score of 740. This impressive figure has allowed it to dethrone major titles like Avatar: The Way of Water, Zootopia, and Freakier Friday to claim the top spot on the charts.
The Legacy and Story of Tron: Ares
The film is a direct sequel to 2010's Tron: Legacy, continuing a franchise that began with the original Tron in 1982. Directed by Joachim Rønning (known for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), the plot follows an artificial intelligence entity, portrayed by Jared Leto, who embarks on a perilous mission into the real world. The screenplay was penned by Jesse Wigutow, based on a story he developed with David DiGilio.
A Timeless Animated Masterpiece for Comparison
This streaming success story stands in stark contrast to the enduring, instant classic status of other Disney properties. For instance, Toy Story, Pixar's pioneering first fully computer-animated film from 1995, continues to be revered. It holds a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was the second highest-grossing film the year it was released.
The adventure-comedy, featuring the iconic voices of Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, is frequently cited as one of the greatest animated films ever made. Critics praise its timeless story and the impeccable chemistry between its lead characters, ensuring its rewatchability decades later.
The dramatic revival of Tron: Ares on streaming highlights the evolving nature of film success in the digital age, where a theatrical underperformance can be completely rewritten by finding its dedicated audience at home.
