Are We Shocked a Sequel to a Cult Fave Like ‘Tron’ Didn’t Become a Mainstream Hit?

Former Disney film chief Sean Bailey’s first movie to be released upon taking the job at Disney was “Tron: Legacy,” a big swing based on the long-dormant cult property “Tron” from 1982. That film, about a human who gets sucked into a computer, was a pioneer for digital effects and became a cult favorite after its initial release, and “Legacy” aimed to be just as daring in its use of CGI, motion capture, and 3D, ultimately bringing in $400 million worldwide in 2010.

Perhaps fittingly, one of Bailey’s last project upon his exit last year is “Tron: Ares,” which opened this weekend. But with underwhelming reviews, a tenuous connection to the original beyond a brief Jeff Bridges appearance, and a story that takes the “Tron” light cycles into the real world rather than try and innovate further into the digital realm, are we surprised that this sequel to a niche, cult hit underwhelmed audiences?…