Disney is returning to the grid with Tron: Ares, the third live-action movie in the long-running sci-fi franchise. Coming 15 years after the last entry, Tron: Legacy, the newest installment takes the story in a completely different direction, focusing on Dillinger Systems creating a new AI being known as Ares (Jared Leto) as these programs breach the real world.
Tron: Ares releases in theaters exclusively on October 10, including in premium formats like IMAX, and excitement to see it on the big screen is high. It’s projected to be one of the biggest hits at the 2025 fall box office. Yet, curiosity about when it will come to streaming on Disney+ remains.
Disney has not confirmed any plans for when Tron: Ares will start streaming. Whether you want to know when this could happen to rewatch it or see it for the first time, there’s a lot of data out there that helps us create a projection for Tron: Ares‘ Disney+ release date.
Tron: Ares Will Likely Be Released On Disney+ In January 2026
Since the launch of Disney+ in 2019, any Walt Disney Studios production has been made available exclusively on their streaming service for its initial release. The studio’s strategy with when to make these movies available at home in this way has evolved over the years, with the last few better reflecting their current practices.
For Tron: Ares, it’s best to look at how Disney handles its various live-action movies, especially those tied to major IP. Since 2023, these types of movies have hit Disney+ on average 95 days after debuting in theaters. Tron: Ares is projected to release on Disney+ in January 2026, using these figures then.
Disney Movie |
Gap From Theaters To Streaming |
---|---|
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny |
154 days |
Haunted Mansion |
68 days |
The Marvels |
89 days |
Young Woman and the Sea |
46 days |
ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine |
109 days |
Mufasa: The Lion King |
96 days |
Snow White |
82 days |
Thunderbolts |
117 days |
Lilo & Sтιтch |
103 days |
The tricky thing in this instance is that the data treats Tron: Ares as an IP of a similar stature as the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, Disney’s live-action remakes, or a franchise as big as Indiana Jones. This is a popular piece of IP, but it’s not quite as big or beloved as those others. That could impact its overall reception and performance, and possibly the streaming release too.
Tron: Ares’ Box Office Performance Could Speed Up Its Streaming Release
The reality is that Disney may wait to decide what to do with Tron: Ares‘ streaming release until after interest in it in theaters is solidified. The studio does not do many live-action movies that aren’t superhero-related or remaking animated movies. That’s because the others are riskier box office plays.
If Tron: Ares doesn’t live up to expectations in theaters, Disney could pull the plug on this film earlier than most. Instead of getting the 90+ day theatrical run that Marvel, live-action remakes, animated movies, and other big hits receive, this one may fall more in line with 2023’s Haunted Mansion.
That movie had hopes of a strong box office performance in the summer, but it only made $117 million worldwide (off a $150 million budget) after receiving mostly negative reviews. Disney then put it on streaming after only 68 days. If a similar fate happens with Tron: Ares critically and financially, it could go to Disney+ in December.
There is no critical consensus on Tron: Ares as of this writing, but it’ll need to be a winner with audiences to secure a long theatrical run. Box office projections are favorable. Hopefully that is the case and audiences will be treated to the movie coming to streaming early in 2026.