In 2025, I finally watched 1982's Tron for the first time, and here's what I thought. I grew up in the 1980s, a golden age for kids, with so many exciting new movies, toys, and video games. Yet, despite my love for all three, I somehow missed Tron. I knew it existed, from the iconic VHS box and the cool Tron cabinet in video arcades, but I never watched the film. Now, ahead of Disney's Tron: Ares, I finally sat down to correct that oversight.
Tron was a groundbreaking experiment from Disney, one of the first feature-length films to use a ton of computer-generated imagery. Its creator, Steve Lisberger, was inspired by the 'Pong' video game in the '70s. With a budget of $17 million (more than E.T. and Star Trek II), Lisberger leaned into the video arcade aesthetic, blending CGI with cinematic sleight-of-hand to create a fully realized computer world. Tron was a technical marvel but failed to live up to expectations at the box office and was snubbed for Best Visual Effects at the Oscars, with the Academy feeling the use of computers was cheating.
Despite its initial box office failure, Tron has built a strong cult following over the decades. The film starts with a disorienting glimpse of the real world before diving into a dazzling computer kingdom ruled by the evil henchman SARK. The plot involves Flynn, a brilliant programmer, who gets zapped into the digital world and must survive to bring down SARK and the MCP core unit. The film's jargon-filled plot was met with bemusement at the time but is easy to understand now.
Tron's effects may be primitive by today's standards, but they are clean, bold, and distinctive, creating a borderline trippy effect. The film is a feast for the eyes, especially for those who grew up with the retro '80s look. However, the plot and characters lack depth, with no real stakes. The film's prescient take on technological issues is overshadowed by its tedious nature after the novelty of the environment wears off.
Despite its flaws, Tron is an amazing feast for the eyes and a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who grew up in the '80s.
