Verity Targets $35M Debut as Digger Faces Potential $12M Flop

Key points

• 'Verity' is projected to open with $30M-$35M domestically and $50M-$55M globally, driven by strong presales in Brazil and Scandinavia.
• 'Digger' is expected to open with $12M-$15M domestically and $35M globally, falling short of the $40M domestic threshold needed to justify its budget.
• The production cost for 'Digger' is reported to be between $125M and $180M, with a global marketing spend approaching $100M.
• Critics have polarized on 'Digger', with a 52% Rotten Tomatoes score, while 'Verity' received mixed reviews praising Anne Hathaway's performance but criticizing the script.
• Warner Bros. is embracing the controversy surrounding 'Digger' with a new marketing campaign urging audiences to 'decide for yourself'.

Background

This weekend's releases follow a period of intense scrutiny for both films. 'Digger' had a world premiere in London on September 22, 2026, and faced a sharp drop in Oscar odds following mixed early press screenings. 'Verity' is the latest in a series of Colleen Hoover adaptations, following 'It Ends With Us,' 'Regretting You,' and 'Reminders of Him,' which have generally performed well against modest budgets.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline and Variety agree on the box office projections, with Deadline emphasizing the 'Digger' impact and Variety highlighting Hathaway's third No. 1 opening. Rotten Tomatoes notes that 'Verity' is a faithful but 'listless' adaptation, while Deadline points out that 'Digger' has a 52% critical score, which is higher than some of Cruise's previous flops like 'The Mummy' (15%) and 'Jack Reacher: Never Go Back' (37%). Yahoo focuses on the plot twists in 'Verity,' while Deadline and Variety emphasize the financial risks for Warner Bros. and Amazon MGM, respectively. All sources agree that 'Verity' is the safer bet, while 'Digger' is a significant financial risk for Warner Bros., especially with the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger set to close next week.

Why it matters

The performance of 'Verity' and 'Digger' will have significant implications for the studios involved. A strong 'Verity' opening will help Amazon MGM rebound from the summer's 'Masters of the Universe' flop, while a weak 'Digger' opening could further strain Warner Bros.' finances, especially with the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger set to close next week. The films also represent different strategies in the current market: 'Verity' is a low-risk, high-reward adaptation of a popular novel, while 'Digger' is a high-budget, high-risk satire that has faced significant critical and audience backlash.

What to watch

Box office results for 'Verity' and 'Digger' will be released on Monday, October 5, 2026. The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger is set to close next week, which could have implications for Warner Bros.' future slate. 'Verity' is expected to continue performing well in international markets, particularly in Brazil and Scandinavia, while 'Digger' may struggle to find an audience in the US and internationally.