Despite a well-known actor returning to serious roles, an acclaimed director with two Oscars under his belt, and significant hype akin to a moon landing, the film “Digger” appears destined to be one of the year’s most significant box office failures.
As reported by Variety, the dark comedy directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and featuring Tom Cruise experienced a budget increase from $125 million US to $160-180 million US, with a projected break-even point of $350 million US, factoring in marketing costs (Warner Bros. contests this, stating their break-even point is closer to $300 million US).
The film earned a mere $1.2 million US in previews and is forecasted by the Hollywood Reporter to only rake in $12-15 million US domestically in its opening weekend. This disappointing performance adds to Warner Bros.’ string of underperforming releases this year, including “The Bride!,” “Supergirl,” “The End of Oak Street,” and “Practical Magic 2.”
“Digger,” a peculiar tale about an oil magnate attempting to rectify a disaster caused by his drilling, took a bold approach by skipping traditional film festivals, relying instead on word-of-mouth and star power to draw audiences to theaters.
Directed by Iñárritu, known for his award-winning films “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” “Digger” faced early criticism that threatened its success. Critics from various publications deemed it as Tom Cruise’s worst film, a perplexing metafictional piece, and a cumbersome project that elicited pity for those involved.
While some critics praised the film, many deemed it too avant-garde and unconventional to recoup its substantial budget. This setback poses challenges for Warner Bros., whose 2026 lineup has seen moderate success compared to the previous year.
If “Digger” does indeed flop, it could join the ranks of other big disappointments in 2026 such as “Melania” and “Desert Warrior.” However, there is still speculation about potential Academy Awards recognition for Tom Cruise’s performance and the film’s potential popularity on streaming platforms.
The film’s failure coincides with Warner Bros.’ impending acquisition by Paramount and news of key executives departing post-merger. The lackluster performance of “Digger,” despite its thematic boldness, raises questions about the conglomerate’s future artistic endeavors.