Disney's Tron Sequel Struggles to Impress as Nine Inch Nails Delivers Standout Score

As of October 7th, 2025, the year's best score has been written for the year's worst film. Tron: Ares, the latest installment in Disney's struggling Tron franchise, has received a standout soundtrack from the rock band Nine Inch Nails.

The score, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, creates a "psychic loop" for viewers, as the brain struggles to process the film's "technobabble" and "drab narrative" only to be periodically "zapped back into consciousness" by the band's industrial, erotic sound. This dichotomy between the film's poor quality and the music's excellence has left audiences in a state of despair and euphoria.

Adding to the film's troubled reputation is the casting of controversial actor Jared Leto as the lead. Leto, who was accused of sexual misconduct by nine women earlier this year, plays the AI "defender of the grid" Ares. His flat performance is a stark contrast to the energy of the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, leaving many to question Disney's decision to revive the Tron franchise with such a problematic lead.

Despite the film's shortcomings, the Nine Inch Nails score has been praised as a standout achievement, showcasing the band's raw, industrial sound and Reznor's agonized vocals. This marks the first time the band has provided music for a film, having previously collaborated with directors like David Fincher and Luca Guadagnino.