LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Tron: Ares” topped the box office this weekend, but Disney's third entry in the sci-fi franchise failed to live up to expectations.
Despite some positive reviews, including three out of four stars from the Associated Press, the new film “Tron,” starring Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Jeff Bridges, earned $33.5 million, according to Comscore estimates Sunday. The big-budget project, which reportedly cost around $150 million, comes 15 years after Tron: Legacy opened to $44 million and went on to gross more than $400 million worldwide.
The final chapter is about the battle between two powerful technology firms, Emcom and Dillinger, who face the same artificial intelligence barrier. Both can create physical creations using laser 3D printers, but each creation only lasts 29 minutes before turning to ash.
Tron: Ares was packed with action and nostalgia, but it wasn't enough to draw large crowds to more than 4,000 theaters.
“It's been difficult for this franchise to gain traction and become a big mega-franchise,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. He noted that the original 1982 Tron film did not do well at the box office initially, but eventually became a cult classic.
Dergarabedian said international ratings could play a key role in a film's profitability.
“It still tops the box office,” he said. “The release date is solid. All eyes are on a big Disney film, which is a huge brand, famous and has been around for decades.”
This wasn't the only new release that struggled to gain traction.
“Rooftop,” which stars Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst in a blue-collar drama about a construction worker trying to rebuild his life, opened in second place with a modest $8 million debut.
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another took third place with $6.6 million. “Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie” held steady in fourth place with $3.3 million. Netflix and DreamWorks' family release based on the hit preschool series continues to be a hit with younger audiences in its third weekend.
In fifth place, “Soul on Fire” debuted with $3 million. The faith-based drama tells the true story of burn survivor and motivational speaker John O'Leary and stars Joel Courtney, William H. Macy and John Corbett.
It was followed by The Conjuring: Last Rites, which earned $2.9 million, another solid entry for Warner Bros. long-running horror franchise.
In seventh place, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle brought in $2.2 million, continuing the anime franchise's strong theatrical momentum worldwide.
“Crushing Machine,” starring Dwayne Johnson as UFC legend Mark Kerr, added $1.7 million to finish in eighth place.
Rounding out the top 10 were “Strangers: Chapter 2” with $1.5 million and “Good Boy” with $1.3 million.
After a couple of big weekends last month, the box office took a nosedive in October, a month that Dergarabedian calls the bridge month between the summer and holiday movie seasons. He said this month is ideal for films like “Wrecking Machine” and “After the Hunt,” which release Oct. 17, to shine in their own way.
“If you're a fan of cinema, especially indie films, arthouse films and awards season films, this is a great month,” he said. “Moviegoers should embrace the eclectic offerings presented on the big screen.”
Top 10 films by box office in the country
Final internal data will be released Monday, according to Comscore. This list takes into account estimated ticket sales from Friday to Sunday in theaters in the United States and Canada:
1. “Tron: Ares” – $33.5 million.
2. “Roof,” $8 million.
3. “One Battle After Another,” $6.6 million.
4. “Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie,” $3.3 million.
5. “Soul on Fire,” $3 million.
6. “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” $2.9 million.
7. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” $2.2 million.
8. “Wrecking Machine,” $1.7 million.
9. “Strangers: Chapter 2,” $1.5 million.
10. “Good Boy,” $1.3 million.
