Tron Ares underperforms, likely shelving future installments

Disney's Tron Ares opened Oct. 10 and has underperformed at the box office, industry estimates show, leaving the studio facing hundreds of millions in potential losses and prompting reports that future big‑screen entries in the Tron franchise are likely to be shelved for the foreseeable future. The third film in the longrunning science fiction series earned roughly $33 million domestically in its opening weekend and about $60 million worldwide, then fell about two thirds in its second weekend to a roughly $11 million three‑day tally, leaving the film with roughly $103 million in global receipts to date.

Studio and industry analysts say the financial picture darkened after the full cost of the production came into focus. While earlier reports placed the budget around $170 million to $180 million, more recent estimates peg production costs near $220 million. When prints and advertising, residuals and other expenses are added, the film's total outlay is estimated at about $347.5 million. Analysts who modeled downstream revenue from theatrical rentals, home entertainment, television licensing and other ancillary streams estimate total lifetime revenue could reach roughly $214.8...