Despite the return of a prominent actor to dramatic roles, the movie “Digger” is on track to be one of the biggest box-office failures of the year, despite being directed by a two-time Oscar-winning director and receiving significant publicity. The dark comedy, featuring Tom Cruise and directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, faced budget increases from $125 million to $160-180 million. Warner Bros. disputed these figures, stating a break-even point around $300 million instead of the reported $350 million when marketing costs are factored in.
The film only grossed $1.2 million in previews and is predicted by Warner to earn just $12-15 million domestically in its opening weekend, adding to a string of Warner Bros. releases that have underperformed this year. “Digger,” a unique tale about an oil tycoon trying to rectify a disaster caused by his drilling activities, decided to forego the festival circuit, relying on word-of-mouth and star power to draw audiences to cinemas.
The decision to bypass early critical reviews and target Cruise fans directly was a strategic move, considering this film marks Cruise’s first non-franchise project since 2017’s “American Made.” Despite the accolades of the director, Iñárritu, known for his Oscar-winning films “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” initial negative critiques threatened the movie’s prospects.
Critics have labeled “Digger” as one of Tom Cruise’s worst films, a metafictional maze, and a cumbersome production. Even positive reviews acknowledge the film’s experimental nature, indicating challenges in recouping its budget. Warner Bros., after a successful 2025 at the box office, has faced a lackluster 2026, with no movie surpassing $100 million domestically.
The failure of “Digger” could place it among the year’s other major flops, like “Melania” and “Desert Warrior.” Despite its anticipated poor performance, there is speculation on Cruise’s potential awards success and the film’s streaming popularity. However, the movie’s failure coincides with Warner Bros.’ upcoming acquisition by Paramount and the reported departure of key film executives post-merger, raising concerns about the conglomerate’s future artistic decisions.