Cruise's 'Digger' Crashes to $8M Opening as 'Verity' Leads
Tom Cruise's satirical film 'Digger' has suffered a massive box office failure, opening with an estimated $8 million against a ballooned budget of $160 million. The film, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, received a C+ CinemaScore and divided critical reception. Meanwhile, Amazon MGM's 'Verity' topped the weekend with $33.6 million, despite also receiving a C+ audience score. The failure of 'Digger' marks the lowest opening for Cruise in nearly two decades and coincides with leadership changes at Warner Bros. ahead of its merger with Paramount Skydance.
Key points
- Digger grossed $3.3 million on Friday and is projected to open at $8 million, far below the $12-15 million studio projections.
- The film's budget ballooned from $125 million to between $160 and $180 million due to production delays.
- Cruise's performance received praise for its range, but the film holds a 51% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Verity, starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, earned $15.1 million on Friday and is projected to reach $33.6 million for the weekend.
- Warner Bros. leadership Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy are exiting the studio as the Paramount Skydance merger finalizes on October 6.
Background
Previous coverage indicated that 'Digger' faced weak box office projections and polarizing reviews upon its October 2 release. The film was noted as a significant departure from Cruise's usual action roles, featuring him as an overweight oil tycoon. Earlier reports highlighted the tension between the film's high budget and its anticipated commercial performance, with some critics praising the vision while others criticized the execution.
How outlets are covering it
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety emphasize the financial disaster of 'Digger,' noting it is Cruise's lowest opening since 2007's 'Lions for Lambs.' Variety highlights that the budget ballooned to $180 million, ensuring significant losses. In contrast, KSL.com offers a positive review, describing the film as a 'bizarre' but brilliant experience that showcases Cruise's acting range, despite acknowledging it is polarizing. Scientific American critiques the film's scientific accuracy, noting that the giant iceberg depicted in the movie is physically implausible compared to real-world calving events. While THR and Variety focus on the commercial failure and studio leadership changes, KSL focuses on the artistic merit, and Scientific American questions the realism of the climate disaster plot.
Why it matters
The failure of 'Digger' represents a significant commercial setback for Warner Bros. and Tom Cruise, marking the lowest opening for the star in nearly 20 years. It highlights the risks of high-budget, auteur-driven projects in a market that may not support them. Additionally, the film's poor performance coincides with major leadership changes at Warner Bros. ahead of its merger with Paramount Skydance, potentially impacting the studio's future strategy. The polarizing reception also raises questions about the viability of such films in the current box office landscape.
What to watch
Warner Bros. leadership Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy are exiting the studio, with Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein set to take over. The Paramount Skydance merger is expected to finalize on October 6. 'Digger' may see some legs if awards buzz builds, but its commercial failure is likely to persist. 'Verity' is expected to continue its run, while 'Resident Evil' and 'Heart of the Beast' are also tracking for strong weekend totals. Future releases include 'Other Mommy' and 'The Social Reckoning.'
- Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Plunging at Box Office With Less Than $10M as ‘Verity’ Leads The Hollywood Reporter
- Box Office: ‘Digger’ Nosediving With $3.4 Million on Opening Day, ‘Verity’ Lands at No. 1 With $15.1 Million on Friday Variety
- Review: 'Digger' is an odd film that you're either going to love or hate KSL.com
- How accurate is the climate disaster in Tom Cruise’s new movie Digger? scientificamerican.com
- Review: Tom Cruise waddles into weirdness with 'Digger' Seattle Refined
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