Despite the return of a prominent actor to serious roles, the movie “Digger,” directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and featuring Tom Cruise, is on track to be one of the biggest box-office failures of the year. The dark comedy, with initial production costs of $125 million US, saw its budget rise to $160-180 million US, requiring a break-even point of around $350 million US, including marketing expenses. However, Warner Bros. disputes this, stating their break-even point is closer to $300 million US.
The movie only earned $1.2 million US in previews, and Warner anticipates a domestic weekend revenue of $12-15 million US, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. This underwhelming performance comes amid a string of disappointing releases for Warner Bros. in 2026, following films like “The Bride!,” “Supergirl,” “The End of Oak Street,” and “Practical Magic 2.”
“Digger,” a peculiar tale about an oil magnate confronting a crisis stemming from his drilling activities, took a risk by bypassing the festival circuit. The film relied on positive word of mouth and star power to draw audiences to theaters, particularly targeting Tom Cruise fans.
Despite being directed by Iñárritu, known for award-winning films like “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” early critical reviews signaled trouble for “Digger.” Some critics labeled it as the worst movie in Tom Cruise’s career, a metafictional mess, and a cumbersome production. In response to negative feedback, the producers released an ad showcasing Cruise’s character confronting critics.
While some critics appreciated the film’s uniqueness, many doubted its commercial viability, projecting it to struggle to recoup its expenses. This predicament places Warner Bros. in a challenging position after a lackluster 2026 lineup compared to the previous year’s successes.
The failure of “Digger” could align it with other major flops of 2026, such as “Melania” and “Desert Warrior.” Despite its poor performance, there is speculation about potential Academy Awards recognition for Tom Cruise and the film’s streaming potential.
The disappointing outcome of “Digger” coincides with the impending acquisition of Warner Bros. by Paramount and the reported departure of key film executives. The movie’s box office failure may signal concerns about the conglomerate’s future artistic decisions.