Verity Dominates Previews with $4.5M, While Digger Lags at $1.2M

Key points

• Verity previews reached $4.5 million, signaling a strong start for the Colleen Hoover adaptation.
• Digger previews totaled $1.2 million, indicating a significant underperformance for the Tom Cruise vehicle.
• Verity is projected to open between $30 million and $35 million domestically.
• Digger is expected to open between $12 million and $15 million against a reported $125-160 million budget.
• The film is set to debut in 3,510 theaters, with strong international prospects in Europe and Brazil.

Background

Recent adaptations of Colleen Hoover novels have seen mixed results, with 'It Ends With Us' being the most successful at $50 million. 'Verity' is expected to outperform 'Reminders of Him' and 'Regretting You', but fall short of the 'It Ends With Us' benchmark. In contrast, 'Digger' follows a trend of high-budget films facing critical and commercial challenges, similar to previous Tom Cruise projects like 'The Mummy'.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and Deadline both highlight the stark contrast between 'Verity' and 'Digger', with Variety emphasizing 'Verity's' potential to secure the top spot and 'Digger's' status as a potential box office bomb. Deadline provides a more detailed financial analysis, noting 'Digger's' high production cost and marketing spend, while Variety focuses on the broader trend of Colleen Hoover adaptations. The New York Times and Slate offer critical perspectives, with the NYT describing 'Verity' as a 'pulpy thriller' and Slate praising its twists and production values, suggesting the film may outperform its source material.

Why it matters

The performance of 'Verity' and 'Digger' will have significant implications for the future of Colleen Hoover adaptations and high-budget action films. 'Verity's' success could solidify the trend of adapting best-selling novels, while 'Digger's' underperformance may signal a shift in audience preferences for traditional action blockbusters.

What to watch

The full weekend box office results will determine the final standings for 'Verity' and 'Digger'. 'Verity' is expected to maintain its lead, while 'Digger' may see a steep decline in subsequent weeks. The critical reception of 'Digger' will also influence its long-term performance, with some critics praising its satire and others criticizing its pacing.