TRON: Ares is a 2025 Walt Disney Studios sequel with a split-screen appeal: critics differ on the film itself, but both reviews discussed here single out Nine Inch Nails’ score. If the movie’s story or spectacle leaves you cold, the music may still be a reason to listen.
What the film is—and what Nine Inch Nails contributed
Directed by Joachim Rønning, TRON: Ares follows programs from the Grid entering the human world, according to Disney’s film and soundtrack materials. The score was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, released under the Nine Inch Nails name.
That credit is notable: Disney’s September 19, 2025 announcement describes it as the first film score the pair released under their band name, after earlier film-scoring work credited to Reznor and Ross. Director Rønning said he wanted the music to keep the band’s identity: “They did this under the Nine Inch Nails banner. It’s their band, so I was very respectful of that… I also wanted to have this be their voice. That was very important for me.”
Is TRON: Ares worth watching?
The two reviews consulted reach different overall verdicts, so they are best read as individual critical responses rather than a measure of consensus.
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The Associated Press: spectacle and action
Mark Kennedy’s Associated Press review calls the film a “dazzling, action-packed sequel with plenty of nostalgia” and gives it three out of four stars. He describes the soundtrack’s mechanical menace and synth layers as a convincing fit, and notes that Reznor and Ross appear in cameos as fighter pilots. Kennedy lists the film as PG-13 for violence and action, with a 119-minute runtime; those are details reported in his 2025 review, not an independently verified rating-database entry.
#1 Best Overall
![TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)[White 2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gh4V+rHZL._SL160_.jpg)
- Nine Inch Nails returns with over 70 minutes of new music for the motion picture TRON: Ares
Tom’s Guide: a stronger case for the music than the movie
Tom’s Guide is less positive, describing the blockbuster as bland or middling while praising the electronic score for giving the action energy and calling it the film’s best feature. Its reviewer also says some viewers may miss the orchestral elements of TRON: Legacy. That is a matter of preference, not an objective ranking of the two soundtracks.
What the score sounds like
Disney’s 2025 announcement characterizes the music through pulsating synths, distorted textures and haunting melodies, and says it contains no orchestral music. That approach makes the score’s industrial, electronic character central to its identity rather than simply a background echo of earlier TRON music.
Rank #2
![TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)[180g 2 LP]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31SqzehnUCL._SL160_.jpg)
- Nine Inch Nails returns with over 70 minutes of new music for the motion picture TRON: Ares
The official Disney track listing identifies “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” as the first single and includes vocal tracks such as “I Know You Can Feel It” and “Who Wants to Live Forever?” Other titles shown on the Nine Inch Nails store CD page include “INIT,” “FORKED REALITY,” “ECHOES,” “THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING,” “PERMANENCE,” “INFILTRATOR,” “100% EXPENDABLE,” “GHOST IN THE MACHINE,” and “NEMESIS.”
Rønning praised the composers in Disney’s feature, saying, “I think they are two of the best movie composers of our time,” and, “They just elevate every scene they touch.” Those comments help explain the director’s enthusiasm, while the reviews offer a more mixed picture of how the music functions within the finished film.
Rank #3
- 2LP on transparent blue and clear vinyl
Soundtrack release: the listed track counts differ
Disney UK Press described the 2025 soundtrack album as containing 24 tracks. The current Nine Inch Nails official store CD page describes the album as over 70 minutes and displays 21 track entries. Those are separate descriptions of the official release and product page; the available listings do not explain the difference, so they should not be treated as matching track counts.
CD or store-exclusive vinyl?
The Nine Inch Nails official store documents both a CD and a store-exclusive 2LP vinyl edition. The vinyl listing specifies red swirl vinyl, an exclusive cover and an exclusive poster, and says it is available only at NIN.com.
Rank #4
![Tron [Limited Edition] Soundtrack Collection: Tron: Legacy -Daft Punk- / Tron: Ares -Nine Inch Nails-](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41rEI6XQaUL._SL160_.jpg)
- Tron Legacy: Blue & Clear
- Tron Ares: Red (Clear)
| Edition | What the official store page states | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| CD | Over 70 minutes; 21 track entries are displayed on the product page. Nine Inch Nails Official Store CD page | A physical copy without the vinyl-specific collector extras. |
| 2LP vinyl | Store-exclusive red swirl vinyl, exclusive cover and exclusive poster. Nine Inch Nails Official Store 2LP page | Collectors who want the listed color and packaging extras. |
Disney’s announcement describes the album as a 24-track release, while the store’s CD page shows 21 entries. Check the specific product listing for the edition you plan to buy; the available pages do not establish how their track counts relate.
Where to watch the film
Disney’s official film page advertises digital purchase on December 2, Blu-ray on January 6 and Disney+ streaming on January 7, but the excerpted dates do not include years and the page may vary by territory. Confirm current dates and availability on Disney’s official TRON: Ares page for your region.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Daft Punk Records
- TRON: Legacy – Daft Punk Records [Limited Edition Colored 2LP Vinyl]
- TRON: Legacy – Daft Punk Records [Limited Edition Colored 2LP Vinyl]
- TRON: Legacy – Daft Punk Records [Limited Edition Colored 2LP Vinyl]
- TRON: Legacy – Daft Punk Records [Limited Edition Colored 2LP Vinyl]
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