In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tron actor Jeff Bridges offered insight into his perspective on why films such as Tron: Ares are quickly labeled “flops” after early box-office numbers. The third installment in the Tron franchise grossed roughly $33.5 million domestically, with a global debut of around $60.5 million. With a budget exceeding $200 million, Tron: Ares was predicted by Disney to be a major blockbuster; however, the film fell short of both industry and audience expectations, leading to numerous conversations about its commercial failure.
Bridges pushed back against the initial judgment, stating, “It’s interesting, though, how movies are received on opening weekend… I remember Heaven’s Gate was considered, you know, very disappointing or a flop, but nowadays it’s considered kind of a masterpiece.” He added his own experience with audience reactions: “Even as an individual, often, I have not liked a movie. And then a couple of weeks or months later, I’ll see it again and say, ‘What was I thinking?’”
By comparison, Tron: Legacy grossed approximately $44 million domestically in its first weekend of release in 2010, but went on to make $400 million overall against its $170 million budget. Tron: Legacy was considered a “modest hit.”
From Bridges’ perspective, labeling a film a “failure” after opening weekend often overlooks its long-term impact—such as cultural influence, audience reevaluation, and overall legacy. Bridges believes that audiences and critics should give films their time to find their place, while early numbers define some part of their fate, it shouldn’t define the film’s success. “Sometimes it just takes a while for people to catch up,” His statements underline his hope for the future of Tron. Rather than focusing on the weak returns, Bridges expressed his confidence that Tron: Ares will be re-evaluated as time goes on, similar to other misunderstood films he’s been a part of.
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