We’ve got a little under a month to go until the worlds of Users and Programs collide once again. So naturally people are going to want to prepare for this momentous occasion through things like our Tron: Ares Crash Course, as well as rewatching both previous films in Disney’s cult favorite franchise. 

However, if you want to go a bit above and beyond to prepare, there’s one thing you really need to do – and that’s pick up both Tron and Tron: Legacy in their gorgeous 4K re-issues. I know that’s easy for me to say as a fan, but let me make my case here. As it turns out, there’s more than just a fresh coat of paint to look forward to with Disney’s home entertainment revival. 

Both Tron Movies Haven’t Looked Better

The moment it was announced that Tron: Legacy was being tweaked for 4K with director Joseph Kosinski’s oversight, my heart skipped a couple cycles. All of the hoopla leading up to that movie was what helped make me a Tron fan in the first place, so a delicious new UHD version was something I was looking forward to. (Especially when my Blu-ray copy from 2011 still looks mighty fine.)

However, Disney sweetened the pot with something even greater: an 8K restoration of the original Tron – lovingly printed onto a 4K disc for us Users to enjoy at home. Again, co-writer/director Steven Lisberger’s seminal sci-fi hit looked beautiful through its previous home release. But looking at the new and improved version, I seriously wonder if this was what watching the adventures of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) looked like in its first run. And speaking of that foundational family in the world of Tron…

Tron: Legacy’s Special Features Act As A Bridge To Ares

In my previous professional life, I had ample opportunity to geek out over the Tron franchise. Part of those activities were thanks to talking (via CinemaBlend) about how the Dillinger family (and Dillinger Systems) had risen to prominence in the pre-Tron: Ares lore. I didn’t pull those details out of thin air my friends, they came from what I consider to be one of the best special features packages in home video. 

Through Tron: Legacy’s added content, the era between Kevin Flynn’s disappearance in 1989 and the misadventures of his son Sam (Garrett Hedlund) in 2010 was given a lot of detail. The bulk of the information you’ll want to seek is in the vintage short “The Next Day – Flynn Lives Revealed.” It’s available on the Blu-ray disc of the 4K combo pack – which is literally a reprinted version of what was available in 2011.

Be Sure To Keep Going After The Next Day – Flynn Lives Revealed

A lot of 4K reissues tend to skip over the extras on Blu-rays or even special edition DVDs, back when the medium was valued at a higher premium. To have the entire classic features package ported over from Tron and Tron: Legacy is a beautiful thing to see. It’s also a great window into how movies were marketed in those crazy post-Dark Knight days, when viral campaigns still got fans engaged in a bit of roleplay. 

“The Next Day – Flynn Lives Revealed” is only the beginning of that journey, as there’s more quick hits of extended material, as well as footage from the Encom press conference at 2010’s WonderCon event. But you’ll need to know the password to discover the remaining secrets of The Grid (Grid, grid, grid.) So let’s slip behind the mysterious arcade cabinet and get to the rest of the story, shall we?

How To Access Tron: Legacy’s “Hidden” Bonus Features

Don’t you miss the days when easter eggs could bring you awesome hidden features on a disc? I certainly do, especially when it’s something as substantial as the deep dive Tron: Legacy went into. To save you all some grief, I’m going to tell you how to get into several bite sized add-ons that enhance “The Next Day – Flynn Lives Revealed.” Here’s what you need to do:

  • Watch Tron: Legacy’s Blu-ray disc (suggested if this is your first time, or a much needed refresher.)
  • Select “Bonus Features” on the Main Menu.
  • Watch “The Next Day: Flynn Lives Revealed,” and wait for the Hi-Scores menu (pictured above) to pop up.

From this point, you’ll have two options: 

  • Enter “ALL” as your high score, and enjoy all nine bonus shorts. 
  • Enter one of the nine high score names to access a specific short. (They’re listed in the order that they play when you enter “ALL.”) 
  • When you’re done, navigate past the initials to the yellow X in the bottom right corner. Click it, and return to the Special Features menu. 

What awaits beyond those initials is…something I’ll let you discover for yourself. But to do that you’ll need to at least pick up Tron: Legacy’s 4K re-issue, which is currently on shelves – along with the original Tron. After this experience, you’ll be ready to enjoy Tron: Ares – which is set to hit theaters on October 10th! 

(P.S.: If you want a little extra credit, then head over to Disney+ and watch the entire series of Tron: Uprising, which takes place between Tron and Tron: Legacy. Otherwise… -End of Line-)

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