In a lot of ways, Tron has always been the little franchise that could, at least as far as Disney is concerned. It’s always been a series that should have made a lot of money, but each film has proven to be a box office disappointment—although they’ve more or less managed to break even.
1982’s Tron had the misfortune of opening during one of the greatest sci-fi summers of all time (in between E.T., Star Trek II, Blade Runner, The Thing, and many others), but it still made a small profit. Twenty-eight years later, Tron: Legacy—which sported a massive budget—also only managed to roughly break even, putting the live-action side of the franchise on ice for another fifteen years.
This weekend, Disney is trying again with Tron: Ares, and it looks like it will have a solid, if unspectacular, opening in the $40 million range. Given that the movie cost around $150 million, some may say that means it’s a flop, but these films have traditionally performed well overseas. Like the other two entries, it probably won’t lose Disney any money. The box office draw of star Jared Leto is certainly a question mark, but the visual effects and a soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails should be strong selling points.
Probably the best news for Tron: Ares is that Taylor Swift: Official Release Party of a Showgirl has closed after its limited engagement, so there will be no competition from Swifties. The runner-up this weekend should be the excellent Roofman, starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst. While it will likely only open in the $8 million range, it’s such a strong film that word of mouth and Oscar buzz should give it some box office staying power. One Battle After Another won’t be far behind with about $6 million, while The Smashing Machine should make around $3.5 million, followed closely by Gabby’s Dollhouse with $3 million. It’s unlikely that the J-Lo vehicle Kiss of the Spider Woman will make much more than $2 million.
Here’s our predictions:
- Tron: Ares: $40 million
- Roofman: $8 million
- One Battle After Another: $6 million
- The Smashing Machine: $3.5 million
- Gabby’s Dollhouse: $3 million
What are you seeing this weekend? Let us know in the comments!
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed