‘Tron: Ares’ powers up the box office with $14.3 million debut as Channing Tatum’s ‘Roofman’ holds strong

Tron: Ares made a strong debut at the box office, collecting $14.3 million on its opening day across nearly 4,000 theaters in North America, while the figure includes earnings from early previews and Thursday night shows.

Although expectations were slightly higher, the film still secured the top spot and marked one of the better openings for a sci-fi sequel this year.

Industry analysts predict the movie could earn between $35 million and $37 million over its first weekend and with its massive budget and legacy franchise status as the film’s future depends on strong weekend turnout and positive audience feedback.

'Roofman' maintains steady momentum

Meanwhile, Channing Tatum’s action-drama Roofman continued to hold its ground with $3.2 million on its second day in theatres and playing in over 3,300 locations, with the film earning praise for its entertaining blend of heist elements and emotional storytelling.

Projections suggest Roofman may end its first weekend with around $8 million in total domestic earnings. Though smaller in scale compared to Tron: Ares, the film’s word of mouth and Tatum’s star power have helped it perform respectably.

The road ahead for both films

Tron: Ares continues the long-running Tron saga, known for its digital world and futuristic visuals as fans have been eager to see how this latest chapter expands on the franchise’s legacy.

Despite a slightly lower opening than expected, strong fan loyalty could keep the film performing well in the coming weeks.

For Roofman, its test will be sustaining audience interest beyond the opening weekend. With limited competition from new releases, it has a fair chance to remain among the top box office earners.

Weekend outlook

The coming weekend will determine whether Tron: Ares can maintain its early momentum and whether Roofman can climb higher with steady word of mouth. Both films cater to different audiences, with one aiming for sci-fi spectacle and the other for grounded thrills, but together, they’re giving October’s box office a much-needed boost.