“ Tron: Ares ,” the latest entry in a five-decade old franchise that’s more of a cult favorite than a commercial juggernaut, debuted to a solid $4.8 million in Thursday previews.

The sci-fi sequel is expected to open to roughly $45 million from 4,000 North American theaters over the weekend, easily topping new releases such as Paramount’s R-rated dramedy “ Roofman ,” starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, and “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” a musical with Jennifer Lopez as a fantasy film queen. “Roofman,” which scored with critics and earned $1 million in previews, is expected to open between $8 million to $12 million from 3,340 locations, while “Spider Woman” should gross $1.5 million to $3 million from 1,300 screens.

The opening of “Tron: Ares” is roughly in line with 2010’s “Tron:

See Full Page