Cruise’s 'Digger' Opens Weak as Warner Bros. Braces for Paramount Merger
Tom Cruise’s new satire 'Digger' is projected to open with $15–19 million, a significant miss against its $125 million budget. This weak debut exacerbates Warner Bros.’ poor 2026 performance, which has generated only $437.7 million in domestic revenue compared to $1.8 billion last year. The film’s underperformance arrives just before the $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance closes on October 6. While critics are sharply divided, with some praising the film’s ambition and others calling it pretentious, the commercial failure highlights the studio’s struggle to connect with audiences. Warner Bros. faces pressure to deliver hits to manage the combined company’s $80 billion debt, though future titles like 'Dune: Part Three' and a 'Minecraft' sequel are expected to improve revenue next year.
