Despite the return of a prominent actor to dramatic roles, a two-time Academy Award-winning director, and significant publicity comparable to the moon landing, the film “Digger” appears destined to be one of the year’s most significant box office failures.
The dark comedy, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and featuring Tom Cruise, experienced a budget increase from its initial $125 million to $160-180 million, with a breakeven point estimated at around $350 million, factoring in marketing costs. Warner Bros. contested this figure, stating their actual breakeven point was closer to $300 million.
Despite high expectations, the film only garnered $1.2 million in previews. Warner Bros. projects a meager domestic weekend box office of $12-15 million, adding to the studio’s series of disappointing releases this year. This trend, following other underperforming films like “The Bride!”, “Supergirl,” “The End of Oak Street,” and “Practical Magic 2,” may culminate in one of Warner Bros.’s most significant flops in recent years.
“Digger,” a peculiar narrative involving an oil magnate tasked with rectifying a calamity caused by his drilling activities, carried inherent risks. The R-rated black comedy bypassed the festival circuit, banking on positive word of mouth and star power to attract audiences to theaters.
The decision to sidestep early critical reviews and target Cruise fans directly seemed strategic, marking the actor’s first non-franchise project since the 2017 film “American Made.”
Directed by Iñárritu, renowned for his acclaimed works “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” “Digger” faced critical backlash prior to its release, jeopardizing its prospects.
Receiving scathing reviews, labeled as “the worst movie of Tom Cruise’s career” by the Boston Globe, a “metafictional morass” by RogerEbert.com, and “a lumbering white elephant of a movie” by the New York Times, the film’s producers resorted to an ad where Cruise’s character confronts critics.
Even admirers of the film, like CBC, foresaw challenges in “Digger” recouping its budget due to its experimental nature.
Warner Bros., coming off a successful 2025 with hits like “Sinners,” “Weapons,” and “One Battle After Another,” faced a less prosperous 2026. While films like “Wuthering Heights,” “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy,” and “Evil Dead Burn” achieved moderate success, none surpassed $100 million domestically.
If “Digger” fails to perform, it could join the ranks of 2026’s other major disappointments like “Melania” and “Desert Warrior.”
Despite anticipated poor performance, “Digger” may still hold value for Warner Bros., potentially contributing to Academy Awards recognition for Cruise and finding success on streaming platforms.
The film’s failure coincides with Warner Bros.’ imminent acquisition by Paramount, and rumors suggest changes in leadership following the merger, hinting at potential shifts in the conglomerate’s artistic direction.