Despite a notable actor’s return to serious acting, an acclaimed two-time Oscar-winning director, and substantial publicity comparable to the moon landing, the film “Digger” appears destined to be one of the year’s most significant box office failures.
As reported by Variety, the dark comedy “Digger,” directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, experienced a significant budget increase from the initial $125 million to $160-180 million, with a breakeven point estimated around $350 million when factoring in marketing expenses. Warner Bros. disputed this, stating their actual breakeven point is closer to $300 million.
The film only managed to earn $1.2 million in previews and is projected by Warner to bring in just $12-15 million domestically this weekend according to the Hollywood Reporter. This poor performance adds to a string of underperforming releases for Warner Bros. in a year already marked by disappointments like “The Bride!,” “Supergirl,” “The End of Oak Street,” and “Practical Magic 2.”
“Digger,” a peculiar tale about an oil magnate tasked with rectifying a disaster caused by his drilling activities, always carried a level of risk. Opting to bypass the festival circuit, the R-rated black comedy relied on word-of-mouth and star power to draw audiences to theaters.
The decision to forgo early critical reviews and target Cruise enthusiasts directly seemed logical, marking the actor’s first venture outside a franchise since 2017’s “American Made.”
Directed by Iñárritu, known for his Oscar-winning films “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” “Digger” faced early negative critiques that threatened its success. Despite some positive reviews, including favorable ones from CBC film critic Jackson Weaver, many anticipated that the film’s experimental nature would hinder its financial prospects.
Warner Bros. finds itself in a challenging position following a successful 2025, with 2026’s releases like “Wuthering Heights,” “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy,” and “Evil Dead Burn” achieving moderate success. However, no Warner film has crossed the $100 million mark domestically this year.
If “Digger” fails to recover financially, it may join other 2026 flops like “Melania” and “Desert Warrior.” Despite the disappointing performance, there is speculation on Cruise’s potential Academy Awards success and the film’s streaming popularity due to his established fan base.
The film’s failure coincides with Warner Bros.’ impending acquisition by Paramount, as reports suggest changes in the company’s leadership post-merger. The unsuccessful box office run of “Digger,” despite its thematic ambition, raises questions about the future artistic decisions of the conglomerate.