Editing Tron (section)

== Reception and legacy ==
=== Box office ===
''Tron'' was released on July 9, 1982, in 1,091 theaters in the United States and Canada grossing [[USD]] $4 million on its opening weekend. It went on to gross $33 million in the United States and Canada<ref name="boxoffice">{{cite web|title=''Tron'' |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=tron.htm |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=tron.htm |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and $17 million overseas, for a worldwide gross of approximately $50 million,<ref name=gross/> which was Disney's highest-grossing live action film for 5 years.<ref name=letters>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|page=10|date=February 23, 1984|title=Letters to the Editor|last=Lisberger|first=Steven|author-link=Steven Lisberger}}</ref>

In addition, the film had $70 million in wholesale merchandise sales.<ref name=letters/>

Despite the gross and merchandise sales, it was seen as a financial disappointment, and the studio wrote off some of its $17 million budget.<ref>Stewart, James B. (2005). ''DisneyWar: The Battle for the Magic Kingdom'' (p. 45). New York: [[Simon & Schuster]]</ref>

=== Critical response ===
The film was well-received by critics. [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film four out of four stars and described it as "a dazzling movie from Disney in which computers have been used to make themselves romantic and glamorous. Here's a technological sound-and-light show that is sensational and brainy, stylish and fun".<ref name="Ebert">{{cite news|last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=''Tron'' |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=January 1, 1982 |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19820101/REVIEWS/201010350/1023 |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19820101/REVIEWS/201010350/1023 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, near the end of his review, he noted (in a positive tone), "This is an almost wholly technological movie. Although it's populated by actors who are engaging (Bridges, Cindy Morgan) or sinister (Warner), it's not really a movie about human nature. Like ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' or ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' but much more so, this movie is a machine to dazzle and delight us".<ref name="Ebert" /> Ebert closed his first annual Overlooked Film Festival with a showing of ''Tron''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival #1 Schedule |url=http://ebertfest.com/one/schedule.htm |access-date=December 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710/http://ebertfest.com/one/schedule.htm |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' also awarded four out of four stars, calling it "a trip, and a terrifically entertaining one at that...It's a dazzler that opens up our minds to our new tools, all in a traditional film narrative."<ref>[[Gene Siskel|Siskel, Gene]] (July 9, 1982). "Marvelous 'TRON' sends Disney soaring into the '80s". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 3, pp. 1–2.</ref> Each gave the film "two thumbs up".<ref>[https://siskelebert.org/?p=6633 Tron, The Secret of NIMH, The Devil's Playground, Gregory's Girl, 1982 - Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews]</ref> ''Tron'' was also featured in Siskel and Ebert's video pick of the week in 1993.<ref>[https://siskelebert.org/?p=2771 Life with Mikey, Super Mario Bros., Guilty as Sin, What's Love Got to Do with It, 1993 - Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews]</ref>

''InfoWorld''{{'}}s Deborah Wise was impressed, writing that "it's hard to believe the characters acted out the scenes on a darkened soundstage... We see characters throwing illuminated [[Frisbee]]s, driving 'lightcycles' on a video-game grid, playing a dangerous version of [[jai alai]] and zapping numerous fluorescent tanks in arcade-game-type mazes. It's exciting, it's fun, and it's just what video-game fans and anyone with a spirit of adventure will love—despite plot weaknesses."<ref>Deborah Wise, "Unabashed fan and critics' critic talk about Disney's ''Tron''," ''InfoWorld'' Vol. 4, No. 30 (August 2, 1982): [https://books.google.com/books?id=NjAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Tron+film+characters&pg=PA71 70-71].</ref>

On the other hand, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' disliked the film and said in its review, "''Tron'' is loaded with visual delights but falls way short of the mark in story and viewer involvement. Screenwriter-director Steven Lisberger has adequately marshalled a huge force of technicians to deliver the dazzle, but even kids (and specifically computer game geeks) will have a difficult time getting hooked on the situations".<ref name="Variety">{{cite news|title=''Tron'' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 1, 1982 |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117795896.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117795896.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In her review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Janet Maslin]] criticized the film's visual effects: "They're loud, bright and empty, and they're all this movie has to offer".<ref name="Maslin">{{cite news|last=Maslin |first=Janet |title=''Tron'' |work=[[New York Times]] |date=July 9, 1982 |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=2&res=9500E7DB103BF93AA35754C0A964948260&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes&oref=slogin&oref=login |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=2&res=9500E7DB103BF93AA35754C0A964948260&partner=Rotten+Tomatoes&oref=slogin&oref=login |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''[[Washington Post]]'''s Gary Arnold wrote, "Fascinating as they are as discrete sequences, the computer-animated episodes don't build dramatically. They remain a miscellaneous form of abstract spectacle".<ref name="Arnold">{{cite news | last = Arnold | first = Gary | title = Duel of Two Disneys | newspaper = [[Washington Post]] | pages = C1 | date = July 10, 1982 }}</ref> In his review for ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', [[Jay Scott]] wrote, "It's got momentum and it's got marvels, but it's without heart; it's a visionary technological achievement without vision".<ref name="Scott">{{cite news | last = Scott | first = Jay | title = ''Tron'' Beautiful but Heartless | work = The Globe and Mail | date = July 10, 1982 }}</ref>

[[Colin Greenland]] reviewed the home video release of ''Tron'' for ''[[Imagine (game magazine)|Imagine]]'' magazine, and stated that "three plucky young programmers descend into the micro-world to battle the Master Control Program with a sacred frisbee. Loses much of its excitement on the little screen."<ref name="Imagine25">{{cite journal | last = Greenland|first = Colin |author-link=Colin Greenland| title =Fantasy Media  | type = review | journal = [[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]] | issue = 25| pages =47 | publisher = TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd. |date=April 1985| issn = }}</ref>

On review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a 73% rating based on the reviews of 71 critics, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's consensus states: "Though perhaps not as strong dramatically as it is technologically, TRON is an original and visually stunning piece of science fiction that represents a landmark work in the history of computer animation."<ref>{{rotten-tomatoes|id=tron|Tron}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gave the film a score of 58 based on 13 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|title=TRON Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tron|website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref>

In the year it was released, the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] refused to nominate ''Tron'' for a special-effects [[Academy Award]] because, as director Steven Lisberger puts it, "The Academy thought we cheated by using computers".<ref name="Helfand">{{cite news | last = Helfand | first = Glen | title = ''Tron'' 20th Anniversary | work = San Francisco Gate | date = January 9, 2002 | url =https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Tron-s-20th-Anniversary-Director-discusses-3236009.php }}</ref> The film did, however, earn Oscar nominations in the categories of [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] ([[Elois Jenssen]] and [[Rosanna Norton]]) and [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]] ([[Michael Minkler]], [[Bob Minkler]], [[Lee Minkler]], and [[James LaRue (sound engineer)|James LaRue]]).<ref name="Oscars1983">{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983 |title=The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 9, 2011 |work=oscars.org |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/55th-winners.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Cultural effect ===
<!-- Per the discussion on the talk page, do not add passing references and parodies such as Family Guy and South Park. Also please refrain from adding Kingdom Hearts references, as that is unrelated to the film. -->

The success of ''Tron'' led to several of the film’s computer animators, including lead animator [[Chris Wedge]], to create a new animation studio known as [[Blue Sky Studios]] in 1987 after their previous studio shut down.

In 1997, [[Ken Perlin]] of the [[Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.]] won an [[Academy Award for Technical Achievement]] for his invention of [[Perlin noise]] for ''Tron''.<ref>Kerman, Phillip. ''Macromedia Flash 8 @work: Projects and Techniques to Get the Job Done.'' Sams Publishing. 2006.</ref>

The film, considered groundbreaking, has inspired several individuals in numerous ways. [[John Lasseter]], head of [[Pixar]] and [[Disney]]'s animation group, described how the film helped him see the potential of computer-generated imagery in the production of animated films, stating "without ''Tron'', there would be no ''[[Toy Story]]''."<ref name="Thompson">{{cite web|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/visual-effects/are-tron-legacys-3d-fx-ahead-of-their-time |title=What Will Tron: Legacy's 3D VFX Look Like in 30 Years? |last=Thompson |first=Anne |date=December 9, 2010 |work=Tron Legacy VFX Special Effects in Tron Legacy |publisher=[[Popular Mechanics]] |access-date=December 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/visual-effects/are-tron-legacys-3d-fx-ahead-of-their-time |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="awm-lasseter">{{cite web|last=Lyons |first=Mike |title=Toon Story: John Lasseter's Animated Life |url=http://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.8/3.8pages/3.8lyonslasseter.html |work=Animation World Magazine |access-date=October 13, 2010 |date=November 1998 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629/http://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.8/3.8pages/3.8lyonslasseter.html |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The two members of the French [[house music]] group [[Daft Punk]], who scored the [[Tron: Legacy|sequel]] and also had a cameo appearance in it, have held a joint, lifelong fascination with the film.<ref name="ign-daft">{{cite web|last=IGN Staff |title=Listen to Daft Punk in TRON: Legacy |url=http://music.ign.com/articles/112/1127361p1.html |work=IGN |access-date=October 13, 2010 |date=October 12, 2010 |quote=Having grown up with admiration of Disney's original 1982 film Tron... |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://music.ign.com/articles/112/1127361p1.html |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Also, in [[Gorillaz]]' music video for the song "[[Feel Good Inc.|Feel Good Inc]].", Russel, the fictional drummer of the band, can be seen wearing an Encom hat.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/HyHNuVaZJ-k Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100622163752/http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=HyHNuVaZJ-k Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|last=Gorillaz|title=Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc. (Official Video)|date=June 28, 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyHNuVaZJ-k&index=4&list=PL6305F709EB481224|access-date=April 15, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

''Tron'' developed into a [[cult film]] and was ranked as 13th in a 2010 list of the top 20 cult films published by ''[[The Boston Globe]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/top_cult_films?pg=9 |title=Top 20 cult films, according to our readers |author=Boston.com Staff |publisher=The Boston Globe |work=boston.com |access-date=December 27, 2010 |date=August 17, 2006 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730/http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/top_cult_films?pg=9 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The film heavily inspired the music video for Danish [[Pop music|pop]]/[[dance music|dance]] group [[Infernal (Danish band)|Infernal]]'s 2006 hit single "[[From Paris to Berlin]]". The music video for Australian rock band [[Regurgitator]]'s 1997 song "[[Everyday Formula]]" was also heavily inspired by the film and recreates several scenes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilikeyouroldstuff.com/news/unit-by-regurgitator-is-20-today |title=UNIT BY REGURGITATOR IS 20 TODAY |work=I Like Your Old Stuff |date=November 16, 2017 |accessdate=28 August 2022}}</ref>

In 2008, the [[American Film Institute]] nominated this film for its [[AFI's 10 Top 10|Top 10 Science Fiction Films list]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |title=AFI's 10 Top 10 Nominees |format=PDF |access-date=August 19, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071937/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref>