As the release date of Tron: Ares nears, landing in theaters on October 10th, it’s the perfect moment to rediscover the digital world. This latest installment marks the third adventure within the visually stunning, video game-influenced realm of The Grid. Excitingly, the first two films, previously unavailable in this format, are now gracing screens in pristine 4K Blu-ray quality. Collectors, take note: Limited Edition Steelbook versions of Tron and Tron: Legacy are up for pre-order on Amazon for $40 apiece. Earlier in the week, Walmart offered pre-orders, but these sought-after versions quickly sold out. Fortunately, the wait is short; both Tron films are scheduled for release on September 16th.
$40 | Arriving September 16
The original Tron, released in 1982, revolutionized cinema with groundbreaking special effects and pioneering computer-generated visuals. The Walt Disney Film Restoration team meticulously restored the film for this 4K release, eliminating imperfections such as dirt and warping. Supervised by Tron’s writer-director, Steven Lisberger, the team digitally scanned the film to achieve unparalleled image quality.
This steelbook version boasts a stunning cover that blends iconic film imagery with fresh artwork of the movie’s characters. Inside, you’ll find a captivating screenshot of the famous lightcycle race, a feat of cutting-edge computer technology at the time. While it may seem dated now, such footage was unprecedented and revolutionary in 1982. The film supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio, and the 4K disc is accompanied by a Blu-ray copy and a digital streaming code.
This Tron release carries over all bonus features from the previous Blu-ray edition. While there’s no new content, the legacy materials offer a thorough look into the making of this technological marvel that pushed filmmaking boundaries in the ’80s. Enjoy an audio commentary featuring Lisberger and crew members, along with featurettes, photo galleries, and promotional materials. The 88-minute “Making of Tron” documentary is particularly insightful, detailing the film’s challenging development.
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
$40 | Arriving September 16
Joseph Kosinski directed Tron: Legacy, which was released in 2010. The film used state-of-the-art special effects to construct a Grid that felt truly digital. Kosinski supervised the remastering of this version in High Dynamic Range from the original digital sources. It also includes Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio. As with Tron, you’ll receive a standard Blu-ray, a digital streaming code, and the 4K disc. The steelbook’s cover displays a collage of characters and technology on the front and back, while the inner artwork showcases a scene from the film’s enhanced lightcycle race.
This edition contains the same bonus features from the previous Blu-ray release, offering a detailed behind-the-scenes look at Tron: Legacy. Along with documentaries and featurettes, there’s a music video by Daft Punk, the award-winning duo who composed the film’s score. While there is no director’s commentary, this edition contains a strong 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
For the uninitiated, the Tron saga unfolds primarily within the Grid, a captivating digital environment. The initial film stars Jeff Bridges as a brilliant video game designer transported into the Grid after hacking his former employer’s mainframe. He discovers that this hazardous realm is part of the very game he designed. Twenty-eight years later, Tron: Legacy follows Flynn’s son as he journeys into the Grid, now controlled by malevolent forces.
Bridging the gap between Tron: Legacy and the upcoming film is the animated series, Tron: Uprising. This series centers on Beck, a young program who inadvertently becomes the leader of a rebellion against the corrupt regime of Clu and his ruthless lieutenant, General Tesler. While the show, celebrated for its outstanding animation and mature narratives, is no longer available on DVD or Blu-ray, it can be streamed on Prime Video or Disney Plus.
Meanwhile, Tron: Ares is slated for release on October 10th. The film features a star-studded cast including Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, and Gillian Anderson. The storyline revolves around Ares, a sophisticated program sent from the digital world on a perilous mission into the real world.
Many exciting 4K Blu-ray releases are on the horizon. On September 9th, keep an eye out for Ballerina From the World of John Wick and Jurassic World Rebirth. October brings Shin Godzilla and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, both also available in Steelbook Editions. Furthermore, the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie is receiving a new 4K Steelbook Edition. Though initially intended to coincide with the new film, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema recently postponed Mortal Kombat 2 to Summer 2026.
For lovers of classic science fiction, explore the recently released Lost in Space Limited Edition, which debuted on 4K Blu-ray on September 2 with a significant 50% discount. DC aficionados can find the exclusive Superman 5-Film Steelbook Library Collection solely on Amazon.