Tom Cruise Film Digger Debuts to Twenty Million Dollars Globally Against One Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollar Budget
Tom Cruise stars in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s English-language film Digger, which opened to $20 million globally against a production budget of at least $125 million. The feature marks Iñárritu’s first English-language project since 2015’s The Revenant. Industry sources project that the Warner Bros. release stands to lose around $150M after drawing an $8 million domestic debut and earning a C+ CinemaScore.
Digger posts lowest opening for Cruise in 19 years
Digger arrived in theaters following tracking by NRG three weeks prior that pointed to an opening range of $17M-$23M. Instead, the film posted the lowest opening for Cruise in 19 years. Critical reception sharply split audiences and reviewers, landing at a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While some viewers appreciated the bold creative swings of the absurdist project, others found the film unwatchable and polarizing.
The financial shortfall contrasts sharply with recent hits. Other titles on the slate, such as One Battle After Another, secured a 94% certified fresh rating and an A CinemaScore. Skydance co-financed several of Cruise’s recent blockbuster efforts, including Top Gun: Maverick and the recent Mission: Impossible entries, which carried substantial budgets driven in part by pandemic-related delays and extensive production requirements.
Influencers post enthusiastic reviews after promotional blitz
Warner Bros. executed an extensive online promotional campaign leading up to the release, inviting internet personalities and podcast hosts to exclusive trailer unveiling events on the studio lot. Following advance screenings, several online influencers posted hyper-enthusiastic reviews on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. One host of the online movie show Raiders of the Lost Podcast told followers in a post that the movie would go down as probably the most important film of the 21st century.
Other content creators similarly characterized the film on social media as the best or most important movie of the year, sparking public debate among commenters regarding the transparency of studio-driven digital campaigns. These hyperbolic assessments stood in stark contrast to the widespread critical backlash and the weak box office returns recorded during the opening weekend.
Cruise joins Iñárritu project after Netflix develops other film
Iñárritu conceived the central character shortly after completing The Revenant. I knew who this character was,
the director told Variety in July. I knew how he spoke, how he survived, how he seduced reality into agreeing with him.
Netflix initially developed the project with Leonardo DiCaprio in mind as a potential star, but the streamer ultimately elected to produce Don’t Look Up with DiCaprio instead.
Cruise subsequently pursued the project due to his long-standing admiration for Iñárritu’s filmmaking. During the Los Angeles Westwood premiere, Cruise expressed appreciation to Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy for greenlighting the picture without hesitation, remarking that they accepted the pitch immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions About Digger
What is the total estimated financial loss for Digger?
Industry sources report that the film stands to lose around $150M, factoring in its $160 million net-priced production budget and a global box office debut of $20 million.
How did audiences react during the opening weekend?
The film earned an opening weekend domestic debut of $8 million and received a C+ CinemaScore from audiences, alongside a 51% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Which studio distributed the movie?
Warner Bros. handled the distribution of the film, which included hosting promotional preview events for online influencers on the studio lot prior to the wide release.
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