Box Office: ‘Tron: Ares’ Hits the Grid With $14.3 Million Opening Day, Channing Tatum’s ‘Roofman’ Raises $3.2 Million in Second

Disney’s “Tron: Ares” will light up the top of the box office in its debut, though the sci-fi entry is coming in dimmer than its projections. Meanwhile, the Channing Tatum caper “Roofman” looks headed for a second place bow.

The “Tron” threequel earned $14.3 million across Friday and previews from 4,000 venues (that includes early access screenings on Wednesday ahead of the wider traditional Thursday rollout.) Pre-weekend tracking had forecast a debut north of $45 million — a range that’s now likely well out of reach. It’s also pacing behind the prior series entry “Tron: Legacy,” which nabbed a $17.5 million opening day in 2010 on its way to a $44 million first frame. Reviews have been mediocre for “Ares,” while audiences were slightly more positive. Survey firm Cinema Score polled a “B+” grade among moviegoers.

It’s a slow start for Disney, which spent a big $180 million on the PG-13 franchise revival. Pegged…