Tom Cruise Responds to ‘Digger’ Being a Major Box Office Flop

Avatar photoHrvoje Milakovic
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Tom Cruise has dedicated decades to convincing audiences that a trip to the cinema is worth the price of admission. Few stars have built that level of trust, which is why even his less successful films usually manage to draw solid crowds.

His latest venture was meant to be a bold risk. ‘Digger,’ directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, features Cruise as Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon whose drilling leads to a global disaster, and who then attempts to position himself as humanity’s savior. In this film, Cruise dons heavy prosthetics and a bald cap, marking his first original movie since 2017’s ‘American Made.’

The box office response has been harsh, prompting Cruise to speak out. On Saturday, October 3, the actor shared behind-the-scenes images from the production, expressing pride in what the team accomplished. He described the experience as unforgettable, expressed gratitude for collaborating with talented artists, and thanked the cast and crew for their dedication and joy.

His message coincided with disappointing box office figures. Warner Bros.’ satire opened to approximately $8 million from 3,321 North American theaters, landing in fifth place and marking Cruise’s lowest opening since ‘Lions for Lambs’ debuted to $6.7 million in 2007. Internationally, the film added around $12 million from 74 markets, resulting in a global debut of about $20 million.

The film’s budget exacerbates the situation. Reports estimate production costs between $160 million and $180 million, with an additional $100 million spent on marketing, although some sources suggest lower figures of $125 million to $150 million. Tracking services had initially projected an opening closer to $30 million, while Warner Bros. had anticipated a debut in the low teens.

In stark contrast, the weekend’s top performer was a different type of film. Anne Hathaway’s ‘Verity’ opened above $30 million, highlighting the disparity.

Reviews have not been favorable either. ‘Digger’ holds a 51% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, marking Cruise’s first “rotten” film since ‘The Mummy’ in 2017, along with a 45 on Metacritic. Audience feedback yielded a C+ CinemaScore, although the Rotten Tomatoes audience score is more lenient at 72%.

Cruise’s performance has garnered the most acclaim. Critics have noted his intense commitment, including a 10-minute climate-change monologue that nearly every review highlights. However, the film’s humor and tone have received more criticism than praise.

Cruise has been actively promoting the film. He urged the makeup team to reduce the application time for his character from six hours to under one hour, and he spoke extensively about his career at a Los Angeles screening event earlier in the week. Warner Bros. even launched “decide for yourself” ads following the reviews.

Screenshot 2026 10 03 at 08 58 38 Digger 2026 Rotten Tomatoes

This situation starkly contrasts with Cruise’s recent successes. When ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ opened with $63 million domestically over three days, he celebrated with a statement. That film achieved the biggest launch in the 8-film franchise, while ‘Digger’ now finds itself at the opposite end of the spectrum.

The timing is also significant for the studio. ‘Digger’ is Warner Bros.’ final release as an independent entity before its merger with Paramount, making every box office result a focal point regarding the types of films the combined studio will support. Analysts predict the film could incur losses exceeding $100 million theatrically.

Despite the disappointing results, Cruise maintains his public stance. He is framing ‘Digger’ as a creative success rather than a financial one, a familiar strategy for a star who has consistently advocated for the cinematic experience. Whether the film will find a second chance with awards voters or home video audiences remains uncertain.

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