It's a rough weekend for Hollywood's last true movie star. Tom Cruise's bold new epic, Digger, has stumbled out of the gate with a shockingly weak box office debut, pulling in just around $10 million domestically. The film, directed by two-time Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, was supposed to be Cruise's triumphant return to original, non-franchise filmmaking—a potential awards-season darling. Instead, it's shaping up to be one of the biggest financial misfires of his career.
The numbers are stark. After earning a mere $1.2 million in Thursday previews—dwarfed by the $4.5 million haul of newcomer Verity—Digger managed only $4 million on its opening day. By the end of the weekend, it's projected to land just under the $10 million mark, a figure that would represent Cruise's worst opening weekend since 2007's Lions for Lambs. That film, directed by Robert Redford, cost a modest $35 million. Digger, by contrast, reportedly carried a budget between $120 million and $200 million, making this debut a catastrophic return on investment.
Globally, the film is eyeing a $20 million debut, a far cry from the blockbuster numbers Cruise is accustomed to. The timing couldn't be more symbolic: Digger is the final release from Warner Bros. as an independent entity, before the studio is rebranded alongside Paramount as the Skydance Corporation. It also marks the end of studio chiefs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca's tenure, adding a layer of historical weight to the film's commercial failure.
Despite the hype, Digger has divided critics and audiences alike. The film currently holds a 52% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus noting that its "audacious design proves too mannered for some of the laughs to smoothly land." The marketing campaign, which initially leaned heavily on Cruise's legacy, later shifted to a desperate attempt to sell the film's satirical edge—but nothing seemed to resonate with moviegoers.
This isn't the first time a big-budget, auteur-driven project has struggled at the box office. Just last year, Warner Bros. released One Battle After Another, a similarly ambitious Leonardo DiCaprio-led adventure that ultimately grossed over $200 million worldwide against a $175 million budget, thanks in large part to stellar reviews and a Best Picture win. Digger, unfortunately, lacks that critical cushion.
For Cruise, who has long been celebrated as the last true movie star, this is a rare misstep. His recent hits—from the Mission: Impossible franchise to Top Gun: Maverick—have been box office juggernauts. But Digger proves that even the biggest names can't always overcome a tough market or a divisive product. Fans curious about Cruise's intense preparation for the role might find some insight in the cast's stories about his relentless rehearsal routine.
As the industry watches Digger struggle, questions arise about the future of star-driven original films. With streaming options and franchise fatigue, audiences are increasingly selective about what they see in theaters. Digger may go down as a cautionary tale—a bold swing that missed the mark. For those interested in Cruise's other work, his epic samurai drama returns to HBO Max in October 2026, offering a reminder of his range.
Whether Digger can recover in the long run remains to be seen, but early indicators are grim. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for ongoing coverage of this developing story.
