Tom Cruise stars as an oil tycoon in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s dark political satire Digger, which opens in theaters on October 2. Facing mixed reviews and weak North American box office projections of $12 million to $15 million, the Warner Bros. release carries immense financial pressure during a difficult year for the studio.
Tom Cruise is stepping far outside his usual blockbuster comfort zone with Digger, a rare big-budget, star-driven R-rated original comedy arriving in cinemas. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu—the Oscar-winning writer and director of The Revenant and Birdman who returns to the awards conversation—the film casts the star as Digger Rockwell, a powerful oil tycoon whose company sparks an ecological calamity, leading the character to race to save the world from a disaster of his own creation. Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons join the Edge of Tomorrow and American Made alum in key roles in the movie.
Box Office Projections and Production Budget Disputed
The film opens on October 2 amid a challenging theatrical market. Tracking data indicates Digger is heading for a disappointing launch of $12 million to $15 million in North America, with projections that were at $18 million to $20 million having been revised down in recent days. Serving as a major autumn release for Warner Bros., the picture debuts during a rough period for the studio marked by box office failures like DC’s Supergirl and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s punk rock The Bride!, as Paramount Skydance looks to finalize its pending takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Financial stakes are high for Warner Bros. and Legendary, with concern over making back their investment. The film was greenlit at a reported budget of $125 million, but according to four knowledgeable sources, the budget climbed to $160 million to $180 million after production went over schedule. Countering those numbers, a representative for Warner Bros. also pushed back against forecasts placing the worldwide theatrical break-even mark near $350 million, insisting the true figure sits closer to $300 million.
Mixed Reviews and Performances Shape the Release
Early critical reception is sharply divided, with the movie debuting with a 41% score on Rotten Tomatoes before standing at 51%, reportedly making it the lowest-rated film of director Alejandro González Iñárritu. The first reviews of the highly anticipated movie call it everything from the best of the year to a disappointing misfire, while Cruise’s over-the-top cartoonish performance as the title character is also up for debate, alongside comparisons to Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, whether out of praise or derision.
Reviewers and critics expressed diverse perspectives on the satirical black comedy: Courtney Howard of Fresh Fiction called it It’s a veritable masterclass in filmmaking.
Allison Rose of FlickDirect wrote, Nothing could have prepared me for the 129-minute entertaining ride I found myself on.
Sophia Ciminello of Awards Watch stated, Digger unfortunately feels as arrogant and pompous as its protagonist, with Iñárritu committing one of the greatest sins a director can commit: believing his film will always be smarter than its audience.
Ian Sandwell of Digital Spy noted, It’s not a complete failure, more of a fascinating misstep because it’s rarely dull.
Joshua Mbonu of Geek Vibes Nation described it as [It’s] such a dull and outdated endeavor that has all of Iñárritu’s most frustrating sensibilities on full blast.
Observers have additionally warned that although the picture could contend for awards, it offers little appeal to general audiences.
Character Portrayal and Industry Context
Stepping away from safer choices like the Top Gun and Mission: Impossible sequels over the past decade, Cruise takes on his most daring role in ages as oil baron Digger Rockwell, appearing unrecognizable with a Texan drawl while starting the movie stretched out on a cat-urine-drenched mattress and coaxing an aging feline named Maggie to lick wet food off his scarred pinkie fingernail, whispering, Take a little taste for Daddy.
Wielding his grandfather’s 1917 oil-discovery shovel, Cruise bellows, Oil is the mother’s milk of Earth!
Digger marks Cruise’s first original film since 2017’s American Made. Meanwhile, streaming metrics provided by FlixPatrol indicate that Top Gun: Maverick holds its spot as Paramount+’s top-streamed title, highlighting an enduring audience appetite for vehicles starring Cruise that could potentially translate into stronger-than-expected box office returns for Digger.