--- title: "TRON: Legacy: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/tron-legacy/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/tron-legacy" critics_score: 53 critics_reviews: 21 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # TRON: Legacy (2010): what the critics said Critics' score 53 from 21 reviews: 2 positive, 12 mixed, 7 negative. The reviews lean mixed, and they agree almost to a critic on what works: the look of the Grid, with its neon architecture and the Light Cycle race, and Daft Punk’s score, which several single out for praise. The 3D is widely described as clean and immersive. Jeff Bridges draws warm notices for his presence, and Michael Sheen earns a mention or two. Where they part is on whether any of that is enough. Most find the story thin, the exposition heavy and the characters without arcs, and a number complain the film is so reverent towards the original that it never does anything of its own. The digitally recreated young Bridges is repeatedly singled out as unconvincing, most sharply by The Guardian. The spread is wide: /Film calls it an exhilarating adventure despite its flaws, while Digital Spy finds it soulless and frustrating, and the bulk sit in the middle on three stars. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 15 December 2010. Ebert finds the film visually impressive but limited in substance. He singles out its eye-catching imagery as its main strength. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tron-legacy-2010) ## Empire — Nick de Semlyen Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 9 February 2009. The review finds the film an impressive but uneven event movie, with its story and dialogue dragging down the later sections. It especially praises the art direction, sound design, and Daft Punk soundtrack. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/tron-legacy-review/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 3 December 2010. Debruge finds the film a visually dazzling ride whose story feels old-fashioned and underdeveloped. He especially praises its immersive design and Daft Punk’s score. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/tron-legacy-1117944151/) ## Screen Daily — Brent Simon Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 5 December 2010. The review’s verdict is unavailable because the article text is behind a paywall. Its specific praise or criticism cannot be determined from the visible page. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/tron-legacy/5021280.article) ## Little White Lies — Tom Seymour Rating 4/3/2. 16 December 2010. Seymour finds the film visually striking but emotionally cold and thematically vapid. He praises its immersive, dazzling use of 3D while criticizing the performances and lack of substance. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/tron-legacy) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Rating 3/5. 25 April 2011. Cabin regards the film as a pleasurable spectacle despite its clunky story and shallow writing. He singles out its extraordinary visuals and Daft Punk’s score, and praises the Blu-ray’s picture and sound. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/tron-legacy-bd/) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 5 December 2010. The available page identifies this as a review but provides no review text from which to report the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is discernible in the available material. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/tron-legacy-1) ## Total Film — Jonathan Crocker Rating 3/5. 6 December 2010. Crocker finds the film an alluring but flawed adventure, with its story and exposition undermining its momentum. He praises the spectacular visuals and imaginative design of The Grid. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/tron-legacy-review/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating D+. 16 December 2010. Tobias judges the film dry and over-serious, with its mythology and exposition obscuring the fun. He praises the original’s sense of adventure, while noting the sequel’s updated game showdowns amount to little more than homage. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/tron-legacy-1798166809) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 42/100 (inferred from the text). 7 December 2010. McCarthy finds the sequel visually striking but ultimately overlong and only moderately entertaining. He particularly praises its inventive design and high-speed race sequence, while faulting the latter half for repetitive confrontations and multiple endings. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/film-review-tron-legacy-56783/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2010. Sharkey finds the film visually impressive but ultimately an average player, held back by its overreliance on the original and lack of emotional depth. She especially praises the grid’s carefully designed architecture and mesmerizing 3-D light effects. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-dec-16-la-et-tron-20101216-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2010. Bradshaw finds the film dull and laborious, arguing that its reverence for the original leaves it creatively paralysed. He singles out the digitally recreated young Jeff Bridges as especially unconvincing. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/dec/16/tron-legacy-review) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2010. Lussier finds the film an exhilarating, entertaining adventure despite its flaws. He especially praises Daft Punk’s score and the immersive visuals, while noting that the characters lack meaningful arcs. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/512531/movie-review-tron-legacy/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The URL indicates a review that praises the film’s visuals while criticizing its narrative. The page is blocked, so the critic’s full verdict and specific praise or complaints cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-tron-legacy-is-a-sonic-visual-delight-but-lacks-soul-narratively-empty-20101208/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 3/5. 17 December 2010. Lambie finds the film a mesmerizing, worthwhile follow-up despite its many storytelling faults. He praises its vivid visual design and Jeff Bridges’s performance, while criticizing the plot and digital recreation of Clu. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/tron-legacy-review/) ## HeyUGuys — David Sztypuljak Rating 3/5. 16 December 2010. The critic calls the film a must-watch for fans of neon and the original, despite a weak storyline. They praise the striking visuals and Jeff Bridges and Michael Sheen’s performances. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/tron-legacy-review/) ## The Skinny — Thom Atkinson Rating ★★★. 5 January 2011. The review finds the film visually impressive but emotionally and narratively disappointing. It praises the neon world of The Grid and Daft Punk’s score, while faulting the story and lead performance. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/tron-legacy) ## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2010. Bitel finds the film visually impressive and timely, but ultimately weighed down by formulaic storytelling and underwritten characters. He particularly praises Jeff Bridges’s presence while faulting Tron’s poorly motivated role in the climax. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/tron-legacy-film-review-by-anton-bitel) ## NME — James McMahon Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film visually impressive but ultimately disappointing. The crisp neon visuals stand out, while formulaic storytelling and uncertain performances undermine it. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-movie-11774-321158) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 5 December 2010. The critic finds the sequel disappointing despite its impressive opening, saying its spectacle cannot make up for a thin story and lifeless characters. The Light Cycles battle earns praise for its exhilarating action and clear 3D, while the de-aged Jeff Bridges effects are singled out as especially poor. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/review-tron-legacy-dont-believe-hype-23016/) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 5 December 2010. The critic finds the sequel a soulless, frustrating disappointment, with weak writing and characters undermining its spectacle. They single out Daft Punk’s evocative soundtrack and the upgraded visuals as highlights. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a291545/tron-legacy/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/tron-legacy.md