Hideo Kojima gives his verdict on Tron: Ares, and he's most struck by the Depeche Mode references

The review round-up for Tron: Ares wouldn't have been truly complete without Hideo Kojima's personal take. The video game designer, who has quickly become everyone's favorite film critic on social media, recently revealed what "stuck" with him after watching the new Tron movie, starring Jared Leto.

The long-awaited third instalment in the sci-fi saga was released on October 10 with mixed reviews. It currently holds a disappointing 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, with GamesRadar+'s Tron: Ares review awarding it 2.5 out of a possible five stars.

Kojima is not your usual film critic, of course, and it's rare for him to harshly criticize a film. Instead, he focuses on details he found interesting without really revealing whether he liked the film or not. "Watched TRON: Ares. What stuck with me was how Ares kept bringing up the Depeche Mode song 'Just Can’t Get Enough' from the Vince Clarke era throughout the film," he wrote on Twitter.

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Watched “TRON: Ares.”What stuck with me was how Ares kept bringing up the Depeche Mode song “Just Can’t Get Enough” from the Vince Clarke era throughout the film. pic.twitter.com/dahftjFt7HOctober 19, 2025

Also starring Jodie-Turner Smith, Evan Peters, Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges, Tron: Ares follows a highly sophisticated AI program called Ares (Leto) who gains sentience and disobeys his owners. When he meets their rivals, Ares discovers a way to make himself more human, and takes it upon himself to thwart his former master's plans.

Along with middling reviews, the new movie is having a tough time at the box office, falling short of projections during its first weekend. The film brought in just $33 million in the US during its first few days in theaters, against a $180 million budget. After its second weekend, it has barely crossed the $100 million mark worldwide.

That doesn't bode well for a potential sequel, which may no longer be on the cards. Given the film's post-credits scene, it's clear Disney had serious plans to follow up the story, but we'll have to wait and see if that is still happening.

Tron: Ares is in cinemas now. For more, check out our chats with Evan Peters and Greta Lee, and see our guide to the most exciting upcoming movies heading our way.

Mireia is a UK-based culture journalist and critic. She previously worked as Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy, and her work as a freelance writer has appeared in WeLoveCinema and Spanish magazines Fotogramas, Esquire, and Elle. She is also a published author, having written a book about Studio Ghibli's 'Kiki's Delivery Service' in 2023. Talking about anime and musicals is the best way to grab her attention.