Verity Tops Box Office Despite Mixed Reviews; Digger Fails
The Colleen Hoover adaptation 'Verity' opened at No. 1 with $32.6 million domestically, despite a 34% critic score. Conversely, Tom Cruise's 'Digger' failed to launch, grossing only $8 million and marking his lowest opening in nearly two decades.
Key points
- Verity earned $32.6 million in its domestic opening weekend, ranking No. 1 at the box office.
- The film achieved a 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating poor critical reception.
- Audiences responded positively, with the film grossing $62.5 million worldwide in its debut.
- Tom Cruise's political satire 'Digger' opened to just $8 million domestically and $20 million globally.
- Digger's performance is the lowest opening for Cruise since 'Rain Man' in 1988.
- Vulture analysis suggests the film's ending on a 'Hot Ones' interview highlights the disconnect between Verity's public persona and private actions.
Background
Anne Hathaway recently completed a press tour for 'Verity,' which included a filmed scene for 'Hot Ones,' though she skipped the live appearance due to pregnancy concerns. The film is part of a successful trend of Colleen Hoover adaptations, following 'It Ends With Us' and 'Reminders of Him.'
How outlets are covering it
Rotten Tomatoes and Deadline emphasize the financial success of 'Verity' despite its low critical score, noting its strong worldwide performance. In contrast, they highlight the catastrophic failure of 'Digger,' calling it a disaster for Warner Bros. Vulture focuses on the narrative structure, arguing that the film's conclusion on a 'Hot Ones' interview underscores the theme of celebrity inauthenticity, where public personas mask private truths. While Rotten Tomatoes notes the audience approval, Vulture critiques the character's manipulative nature, suggesting the film explores the 'unwinnable game' of female celebrity.
Why it matters
The divergence between critical and audience reception for 'Verity' highlights the enduring power of the Colleen Hoover brand, while 'Digger's' failure signals a significant risk for high-budget original films without franchise backing. The film's thematic focus on celebrity perception also resonates with current cultural discussions about authenticity in media.
What to watch
Verity is expected to pass its production budget of $40 million in the coming weeks. Digger is projected to lose approximately $150 million. Anne Hathaway is scheduled to return to work in March 2027 after her pregnancy.
- Let’s Talk About the Last Dab in Verity Vulture
- With ‘Verity,’ Anne Hathaway Has Her Third No. 1 Movie This Year The New York Times
- Weekend Box Office: Verity Debuts at No. 1 While Digger Gets Buried Rotten Tomatoes
- Are you Team Manuscript or Team Letter? The twists in 'Verity,' explained. Yahoo
- Box Office Global: 'Digger' Tanks $20M WW Bow, 'Verity' Vivacious $62M Deadline
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