With the premiere of Tron: Ares approaching on October 10, now is the perfect time to revisit the classics. For the first time ever, the iconic films Tron and Tron: Legacy are being released on 4K Blu-ray in collectible Steelbook editions. These editions, priced at $40 each, were available for preorder on Amazon, and earlier on Walmart, where they quickly sold out. Both films are set to be released on September 16.
About Tron (1982)
The original Tron film, released in 1982, was revolutionary due to its pioneering special effects and cutting-edge computer-generated imagery for its time. For the 4K release, The Walt Disney Film Restoration team meticulously restored the picture, removing defects and ensuring pristine image quality after digitally scanning the film. The restoration process was overseen by Steven Lisberger, the writer-director of the film.
The Steelbook cover is a fantastic blend of film imagery and new artwork featuring the movie`s cast. Inside, you`ll find a screenshot of the infamous lightcycle race scene, which in 1982 seemed like the pinnacle of technology. While it might look vintage now, at the time, such imagery was unprecedented. The film supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio, and the 4K disc comes with a standard Blu-ray disc copy and a digital streaming code.
Bonus materials include all the extras from the previous Blu-ray release, offering a deep dive into the making of this 80s technological marvel. These include audio commentaries with Lisberger and the crew, documentaries, photo galleries, and promotional materials. The 88-minute documentary The Making of Tron, which extensively covers the challenging development of the film, is particularly noteworthy.
Tron Special Features:
- Audio commentary with director Steven Lisberger, producer Donald Kushner, associate producer, visual effects supervisor Harrison Ellenshaw, and visual effects supervisor Richard Taylor.
- The Tron Phenomenon featurette.
- Photo Tronology featurette.
- The Making of Tron documentary.
- Development featurettes.
- Digital Imagery featurette.
- Music featurette.
- Publicity and promotional materials.
- Deleted scenes.
- Design featurettes.
- Storyboarding featurettes.
- Galleries.
About Tron: Legacy (2010)
Released in 2010, Tron: Legacy, directed by Joseph Kosinski, leveraged advancements in special effects technology to create a version of the Grid that truly felt like a digital frontier. This version of the film has been remastered in High Dynamic Range from the original digital sources under Kosinski`s supervision and also includes Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio options. Similar to the first Tron, you`ll receive a standard Blu-ray disc and a digital streaming code along with the 4K disc.
The Steelbook cover is striking, presenting a collage of characters and technology on the front and rear, while the inside showcases a scene from the movie`s evolved lightcycle race. This edition also contains legacy bonus features from the previous Blu-ray release, again providing an incredibly detailed look behind the scenes of Tron: Legacy. In addition to documentaries and featurettes, there`s even a music video from the film`s composers, the award-winning duo Daft Punk. Unfortunately, there is no director`s commentary audio track, but overall, it`s a very good collection of extras.
Tron Legacy Special Features:
- The Next Day: Flynn Lives Revealed interactive documentary.
- First Look at Tron: Uprising animated series featurette.
- Launching the Legacy featurette.
- Visualizing Tron FX featurette.
- Installing the Cast featurette.
- Disc Roars San Diego Comic Con panel.
- Daft Punk music video: Derezzed.
Overview of the Tron Universe
For those unfamiliar with the series, the Tron films are primarily set in a digital world known as the Grid. The first film starred Jeff Bridges as a brilliant video game developer who is beamed into the Grid after hacking his ex-employer`s mainframe computer, discovering this dangerous world is part of the very game he designed. Tron: Legacy arrived 28 years later, following Flynn`s son as he is transported to the Grid, now under the control of sinister forces.
After Tron: Legacy, an animated interquel series titled Tron: Uprising was released. The show focused on a young program named Beck, who becomes the unlikely leader of a revolution against the corrupt regime led by the villainous Clu and his henchman, General Tesler. The series featured stunning animation and mature storytelling. While it`s no longer available in collected DVD or Blu-ray editions, it can be streamed on Prime Video or Disney Plus.
Upcoming Film Tron: Ares
Meanwhile, the premiere of Tron: Ares is scheduled for October 10. The film stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, and Gillian Anderson. It follows a highly sophisticated program, Ares, sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission.
Other Noteworthy 4K Blu-ray Releases
Many exciting 4K Blu-ray releases are on the horizon. On September 9, Ballerina From the World of John Wick and Jurassic World Rebirth will be released. In October, Shin Godzilla and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will also be available in Steelbook editions. And for fans of video game-inspired movies, the 2021 Mortal Kombat film is getting a new 4K Steelbook Edition. Its release was planned shortly before the new movie, but Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema recently postponed Mortal Kombat 2 to Summer 2026. Additionally, the Lost in Space Limited Edition recently launched on 4K Blu-ray on September 2 with a 50% discount, and DC superhero fans can acquire the new Superman 5-Film Steelbook Library Collection.