Skip to content
MovieCove
Tron

Tron

Journey now into a startling new dimension where energy lives and breathes. A world inside the computer where man has never been. Never before now.

198296 minPGMidcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Director
Steven Lisberger
Starring
Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan

When brilliant video game maker Flynn hacks the mainframe of his ex-employer, he is beamed inside an astonishing digital world and becomes part of the very game he is designing. In his mission through cyberspace, Flynn matches wits with a maniacal Master Control Program and teams up with Tron, a security measure created to bring balance to the digital environment.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Tron?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Tron streaming on Disney+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Tron?

Tron earns 9 badges, led by One of a kind and Family friendly.

Show 1 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is Tron worth watching?

Tron's Midcredits score is the 69th percentile of all films, from 344K ratings across 6 sources. 63% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

69th percentile

Better received than 69% of films

82nd percentile among Action70th percentile among 1980s
Acclaim (how much people like it)65th
Approval (how many liked it)70th

66 /100

65th percentile of all films

80th percentile among Action68th percentile among 1980s

Critics 58 · Audience 66

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.9 — solid but not unanimous.

63% liked it

70th percentile of all films

80th percentile among Action71st percentile among 1980s
63% rated it 7–1037% rated it 1–6

Critics 61% · Audience 69%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 2 Oscar noms · 2 wins / 8 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Costume Design
  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Sound

97th percentile

344K ratings across platforms

93rd percentile among Action97th percentile among 1980s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 4% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$17M
Opening weekend$4.8M
Domestic gross$33M
Worldwide gross$33M

Returned 1.9× its budget — 73rd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps acknowledge the film as a groundbreaking technical achievement with visionary visual design, but agree the story and character work are shallow.

Fans praised

  • Groundbreaking CGI and visual design that created an otherworldly digital aesthetic
  • Light cycle sequences remain thrilling and iconic set pieces
  • Jeff Bridges brings charisma and humor to the lead role

Detractors panned

  • Weak, simplistic plot with poor character development
  • Dated effects and pacing that feel tedious to modern viewers
  • Confusing computer jargon and convoluted storytelling

What stands out

Originality85

Unprecedented concept of entering a computer world, ahead of its time

Effects and spectacleDivisive80

Pioneering CGI and light cycle sequences; dated but stylish

AtmosphereDivisive80

Immersive, unique digital world with hypnotic neon-grid aesthetic

CinematographyDivisive75

Striking use of neon, backlighting, and black-and-white live-action

ActingDivisive65

Jeff Bridges' charismatic, humorous performance praised; others described as wooden or one-dimensional

Pacing40

Slow in early sections, uneven rhythm throughout

CharactersDivisive35

Paper-thin characterizations, lack of depth or emotional investment

Plot and storyDivisive30

Simple, confusing, with logical holes and rushed resolution

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 18 points higher than women.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 25 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 6 points apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is Tron like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you hopeful. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingHopefulBittersweet
Heaviest: middle
Dry humor
Register
Epic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.Adventurous · 11% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its digital world with earnest wonder and excitement, never winking at the audience despite its fantastical premise.
The rideThe film is driven by pulse-quickening action sequences in the digital world, with a hopeful undercurrent and a mildly bittersweet quality during Flynn's isolation.
StructureA straightforward hero's journey told in linear order from the real world into the computer and back.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulFun
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves the viewer feeling inspired by Flynn's victory and thrilled by the film's imaginative vision.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA programmer digitized into a computer world must survive deadly games and defeat a tyrannical AI while also exposing his human rival's theft.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% (this title) · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Power

Oppression · 4% of filmsIdentity · 14% of filmsFreedom · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores digital oppression as the MCP controls programs and humans alike, while Flynn's journey questions what makes a person real in a virtual world.
StanceThe film celebrates the power of the human spirit and creativity to overcome oppressive, cold technology, positioning Flynn as a lone hero triumphing over the system.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalAlternate dimensionScience fiction
ElectronicOrchestral modernForeground music · original score · Wendy Carlos
SettingA corporate mainframe computer system visualized as a geometric digital landscape with neon-lit games and gladiatorial arenas.
MusicThe score synthesizes classical and electronic textures, using Bach-like fugues and synth blasts to evoke both the digital world and its underlying order.

Content guide

Is Tron okay for kids?

PG

Tron is rated PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (27/100), sexual content at minimal (14/100), language at mild (24/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (3/100) and frightening material at mild (30/100). Overall it is heavier than 15% of PG-rated films.

Ratings in 14 other countries
  • UKPG
  • AustraliaG
  • Germany12
  • FranceU
  • IrelandPG
  • JapanPG12
  • South Korea15
  • BrazilL
  • Hungary12
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands6
  • Poland12
  • SpainAPTA
  • Sweden11
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 4% of all filmsHeavier than 15% of PG-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 28%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 27%
Profanity
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 43%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 3%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 33%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is frightening material, heavier than 33% of PG-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Tron have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Tron?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Jeff Bridges
as Kevin Flynn
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Bruce Boxleitner
as Alan Bradley
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
David Warner
as Ed Dillinger
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Cindy Morgan
as Lora
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Barnard Hughes
as Dr. Walter Gibbs
Dan Shor
as Ram
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Peter Jurasik
as Crom
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Stuart Thomas
as Peter
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Craig Chudy
as Warrior #1
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Vince Deadrick Jr.
as Warrior #2
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Tron?

Movies like Tron include Tron: Ares (2025), Tron: Legacy (2010) and Fantastic Voyage (1966). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by Bonnie MacBird and Steven Lisberger, and several are films set at a tech startup.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 12 share its world: dystopian. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Tron?

291 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: robot or ai. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.