Disney’s sci-fi sequel “Tron: Ares” failed to connect in its box office debut, collecting a disappointing $33.5 million from 4,000 North American theaters over the weekend.
It’s a weak start, even for a five-decade old franchise that’s never been a commercial juggernaut. The trouble is that “Tron: Ares” carries a massive $180 million price tag, not including the many millions the studio spent on marketing. Overseas, “Tron: Ares” didn’t make up much ground, adding another $27 million and putting the final global number at $60 million through Sunday.
Heading into the weekend, “Tron Ares” was targeting a decent domestic debut of $45 million to $50 million. Despite a “B+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls, the action adventure wasn’t able to expand its audience beyond its target demographic of boys and men. As a result, the final weekend tally didn’t come close to matching the prior installment, 2010’s “Tron: Legacy,” which opened to $44 million,…