A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program.A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program.A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 2 wins & 8 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film was disqualified from receiving an Academy Award nomination for special effects, because the Academy felt at the time that using computer generated effects was "cheating".
- GoofsWhen Ram and Flynn are back in their cells Ram is doing tricks with his identity disk. The close-up of Ram's hands show he has no gloves on. When they cut to a wide shot Ram has gloves on.
- Quotes
Alan Bradley: [about the digitizing laser] Great. Can it send me to Hawaii?
Lora: Yep, but you gotta purchase your program 30 days in advance. How's it going upstairs?
Alan Bradley: Frustrating. I had Tron almost ready, when Dillinger cut everyone with Group-7 access out of the system. I tell you ever since he got that Master Control Program, the system's got more bugs than a bait store.
Dr. Walter Gibbs: [laughs] You've got to expect some static. After all, computers are just machines; they can't think.
Alan Bradley: Some programs will be thinking soon.
Dr. Walter Gibbs: Won't that be grand? Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop.
- Crazy creditsA section of the end credits is in Traditonal Chinese. They are the names of the individuals who worked on the movie from the company based in Taipei Taiwan.
- Alternate versionsThe light cycle sequence originally had background music. This alternate scene is present on the special laserdisc edition.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Making of 'Tron' (2002)
- SoundtracksOnly Solutions
Written and Performed by Journey
It's quite surreal, having a plot take place inside a computer and it's clear there are places where it's being pulled out of nowhere, using computer buzz words like 'ram' and 'programs' to be cool and fit into the universe, which kinda adds to the weird charm of the film. I cannot tell whether it takes its self seriously or not at all because there are places where it tries to pull at your heart strings or create a serious moment but there are other moments where you just zone out from some of the imagery on screen.
Major credit to Jeff bridges who just seems like he's having a whale of a time. He and the bad guy carry this film by fully embracing this idea and doing the best job they can, although it's clear they have no idea what's going on and that's just brilliant to me.
The main thing I love about this film is the visuals. They are straight out of a tame impala album cover. I can't tell if it's matte paintings or early digital imaging but either way it looks like it was intedned to; it's so dated to the point where it's come back around and looks impressive. I need to see how they did all this stuff in the early 80s, must have blown people's minds.
Although, they never really explain things though. I kinda could maybe tell what was going on because I've seen the film already but half the things they just don't explain, which did get confusing in places.
But generally this films more a delightful time capsule for an era on the dawn of computer special effects, and for that I really liked it.
- jackman-74739
- Apr 27, 2020
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Tron: The Original Classic
- Filming locations
- The Hull Building - 9543 Culver Boulevard, Culver City, California, USA(exteriors: Flynn's Arcade)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $17,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $33,000,000
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,761,795
- Jul 11, 1982
- Gross worldwide
- $33,001,784
- Runtime1 hour 36 minutes