Was Tron: Ares Just "An Advertisement for the Disney Rides"?

A new article analyzing Tron: Ares‘ disappointing box office performance has a fresh insight into the reasons the film failed.

“An Advertisement for the Disney Theme Park Rides”

A person in a Tron: Ares-inspired armored suit stands with their back turned in a glowing red-lit scene, echoing Disney's futuristic park rides.

The exclusive article from Deadline cites sources close to the project for the perspectives offered. Tron: Ares will ultimately cost Disney $132M due to its poor performance against its $220 million budget, and while some points are repeated — Jared Leto’s lack of star power, the meandering script— perhaps the biggest bombshell shared about the box office bomb is why it even exists in the first place: to promote the Tron: Lightcycle Run roller coaster.

First, those close to the project believe that ultimately Tron: Ares was an advertisement for the Disney theme park rides (also one of the catalysts for Tron: Ares being made, versus say any Disney+ viewership of previous Tron movies). In any given day at the Shanghai theme park and Walt Disney World in Orlando, next to Pirates of the Caribbean ride the Tron ride is the one with the biggest lines.

Tron: Lightcycle Run

TRON: Ares-themed indoor roller coaster station at a Disney park, aglow with blue lights and guests boarding light cycles.

Tron: Lightcycle Run is an attraction at Shanghai Disneyland (where it was an opening day E-ticket attraction) and Walt Disney World. One of the more popular rides at both parks, the innovative roller coaster uploads guests to the Grid for a thrilling lightcycle race that goes both inside and outside under a lighted canopy.