Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Ends Its Theatrical Run as One of the Year’s Biggest Box Office Bombs

When Warner Bros. paired Tom Cruise with Alejandro González Iñárritu for ‘Digger,’ it looked like a prestige swing with real commercial potential. In the satirical black comedy, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an aging oil magnate whose drilling sets off an ecological disaster. The supporting cast includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.

The film was always a risk. It’s a rare example of a big-budget, star-driven, R-rated original comedy. The studio was hoping the combination of one of the world’s biggest movie stars and the director of ‘Birdman’ and ‘The Revenant’ would bring in at least $18 million to $20 million in its opening weekend.

Now the final numbers are in, and they confirm how badly the gamble failed. ‘Digger’ has ended its theatrical run with around $50 million worldwide, against a reported budget of up to $180 million.

The exact cost is still debated. The film’s initial production budget was $125 million, but it has been reported to have risen closer to $180 million, a figure a Warner Bros. spokesperson disputed. According to Variety, Warner Bros. greenlit the film at $125 million, but costs rose after production ran long.

‘DIGGER’ ends its theatrical run by earning around $50M globally. Budget was $180M. https://t.co/NwscYOoUT6

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) November 12, 2026

Either way, the losses are huge. A Warner Bros. spokesperson told Variety that the film needed to gross $300 million to break even, and the movie was projected to lose at least $150 million to $200 million theatrically.

The trouble showed up early. ‘Digger’ opened to just $8 million from 3,321 North American theaters. Experts said a movie of this size would have needed an opening close to $40 million to justify its cost.

Diggin’ it. Watch the new #DiggerMovie trailer. DIGGER only in theaters October 2. https://t.co/QLhmfXpyW4

— Digger (@diggerthemovie) July 18, 2026

Overseas audiences didn’t make up the difference. The film added just $12 million internationally in its opening weekend, for a $20 million global start. It was also Cruise’s weakest opening since 2007’s ‘Lions for Lambs,’ which debuted to $6.7 million on a much smaller budget.

Reviews didn’t help. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes consensus calls it a bold swing by Cruise and Iñárritu that misses as often as it hits, and says its audacious design is too mannered for some of the jokes to land.

Some critics were much more enthusiastic. Many praised Cruise’s performance and the film’s production design and cinematography. Before release, much of the buzz focused on Cruise’s dramatic transformation for the title role.

Good morning, darlin’. Watch the new #DiggerMovie trailer. DIGGER only in theaters October. https://t.co/5SdcgM0xjV

— Digger (@diggerthemovie) July 15, 2026

The filmmakers haven’t backed away from the movie. Iñárritu has addressed the mixed reaction, saying ‘Digger’ was meant to be provocative. Cruise thanked the cast and crew on social media but didn’t directly address the reviews or box office. Guillermo del Toro has also defended the film.

Warner Bros. leaned into the divided response, too. Before release, its social media team encouraged audiences to go to theaters and make up their own minds. The flop comes during a difficult period for the star. ‘Digger’ is Cruise’s second money-losing film in a row, following the expensive ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.’

The release also came at an unusual moment for the studio. ‘Digger’ arrived just days before Paramount took ownership of Warner Bros., making it the studio’s last movie before the Skydance era. Given its losses, it’s likely to be remembered as one of the most expensive misfires in recent Hollywood history.

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