(Image Source: Walt Disney Pictures, Sony Pictures)
Despite claiming the top spot at the North American box office last week, Jared Leto's "Tron: Ares," the third installment in the "Tron" franchise, delivered a disappointing opening weekend. The film, which reportedly cost nearly $200 million (with some estimates at $180 million) to produce, grossed only $33.5 million domestically and an additional $27 million internationally, for a global debut of $60.5 million. These figures suggest a significant challenge for the sci-fi sequel to break even.
(Image Source: Lionsgate)
The North American opening for "Tron: Ares" also fell short of its predecessor, 2010's "Tron: Legacy," which debuted with $44.02 million 15 years ago. Even more concerning, "Ares" performed worse than another Jared Leto-led film, "Morbius," which was widely panned by audiences and opened to $39 million. While the "Tron" franchise has never been a consistent box office powerhouse, its latest outing appears to have hit a new low.
Beyond "Tron: Ares," another high-profile new release struggled significantly at the North American box office last week. The new adaptation of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," produced by Ben Affleck and starring Jennifer Lopez, reportedly cost $50 million to make. Despite opening in 1,300 theaters, the film managed a dismal $840,000 in its opening weekend.