Tom Cruise's latest cinematic gamble, the political satire Digger, has officially seen its theatrical run shrink to a mere fraction of its original footprint. After just three weeks in release, the film has been yanked from over 3,100 screens, a staggering decline that underscores its status as one of the biggest box office disasters in recent memory—and arguably the most significant flop of Cruise's storied career.
The film, directed by two-time Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, opened in more than 3,300 theaters with high hopes. It was marketed as a tribute to Cruise's legendary filmography, with trailers packed with iconic moments from his past hits. An Oscar campaign was reportedly being prepared, but the film's reception has thrown those plans into disarray. Critics have been sharply divided, and audiences have stayed away in droves.
A Historic Drop-Off
In its opening weekend, Digger managed just $8 million domestically against a reported budget of up to $180 million. The writing was on the wall early, and the film was quickly pulled from IMAX screens after just one week, replaced by Christopher Nolan's summer sensation The Odyssey. By the end of its second week, it had lost 2,500 theaters—one of the largest second-weekend drops in box office history. Now, in its fourth week, it's down to roughly 200 locations, a 3,100-theater decrease from its debut.
This kind of collapse is rare for a star of Cruise's caliber. Even Joker: Folie à Deux, which was widely panned, managed to cross the $200 million mark worldwide. Digger, by contrast, has grossed less than $50 million globally, a figure that would be disappointing for a modest indie, let alone a big-budget studio release.
Critical and Audience Reception
The film's reviews have been as polarized as its box office numbers. Some critics have hailed it as a prescient masterpiece, while others have dismissed it as a self-indulgent slog. On Rotten Tomatoes, it sits at a 52% approval rating, with the consensus noting that its "audacious design proves too mannered for some of the laughs to smoothly land." The film stars a formidable ensemble including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, and Emma D'Arcy, but even that talent couldn't save it from commercial oblivion.
For Cruise, this is a rare misstep in a career defined by box office dominance. The film's failure is particularly stinging given the Oscar push that was reportedly in the works. While the Academy could still honor Cruise for his body of work, the baggage surrounding Digger makes a nomination for this film increasingly unlikely.
As the theatrical run winds down, fans are left wondering when Digger will find a second life on streaming. No PVOD release date has been announced yet, but given the film's performance, it may not be long before it lands on a digital platform. In the meantime, other recent box office disappointments have found redemption on streaming, as seen with Moana 2026's streaming redemption and Guy Ritchie's In the Grey defying expectations. Whether Digger can follow suit remains to be seen.
For now, the film's theatrical run is all but over, a cautionary tale about the risks of big swings in Hollywood. Cruise and Iñárritu aimed for the stars, but Digger has instead become a footnote in box office history—a bold experiment that missed the mark.
