Parents' Guide to

TRON: Legacy

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Techie reboot is visually dazzling but short on story.

Movie PG 2010 125 minutes
TRON: Legacy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 26 parent reviews

JrLohms
JrLohms Adult
August 26, 2021
age 10+

Pre teen/teen action movie

Star wars similar violence but a bit less

This title has:

Too much violence
Bobby G.
Bobby G. Parent of 9-year-old
July 21, 2020
age 7+

Fun sci-fi for kids

By no means a good movie but it’s got some nice visuals and an amazing soundtrack. The violence is all against video game characters which explode into glass when killed. Some mild language but nothing to worry about here really.
See all 26 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Two decades after computer programmer and video game designer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) disappeared -- but was actually trapped inside the digital world of his computer game -- his son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund), is prompted to track down a mysterious page. Snooping around his father's ancient video arcade, Sam is unexpectedly sucked into the "Grid" as well, where his father's virtual clone, Clu (a digitally enhanced, youthful Bridges), attempts to kill him. Sam is rescued by Quorra (Olivia Wilde), an enigmatic "program" who serves as Kevin's apprentice in a secret digital landscape that's considered "off the grid," where Kevin lives an almost monastic existence and has given up on ever getting out of the virtual world. With Quorra's help, Sam attempts to defeat Clu and get the three of them out of the Grid and back to reality.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (26):
Kids say (115):

TRON: LEGACY is a visually stunning film. But while many of the action sequences are truly awesome -- including the memorable light cyle race -- the story is a bit lacking in emotion. There are some highlights -- like the hilarious nightclub scene (thanks largely to Michael Sheen, who's deliciously campy as the club's owner). Really, once the novelty of seeing two Jeff Bridges wears off, there's not too much too pull you in beyond the effects ... luckily, for fans of the original Tron, that might be plenty.

Newbies might notice that for a loud and action-packed thriller, TRON: Legacy drags a bit, with an ending that doesn't culminate in the payoff they might have hoped for. There's no denying that the computer-generated effects are worth checking out in 3-D -- If you or your kid is into all things Tron, you'll enjoy the high-tech eye candy -- but the plot almost can't help but pale in comparison.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's themes of technology and how it changes our lives. Do you think these ideas are more relevant today than in the '80s when the original came out? Why or why not?

  • How are Clu and Kevin's approaches to the digital world in opposition? What do they each represent?

  • What did you think of the movie's special effects? Were they impressive or distracting?

  • How does this movie compare to the original? Do you think it will have as big of a following?

Movie Details

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