Digger film faces major box office losses amid critical divide

The climate-change satire “Digger,” directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, is facing a significant box office failure. Despite a production budget estimated between $125 million and $180 million, the film opened to approximately $8 million in North America and $12 million internationally. Some industry reports suggest the film could face total losses as high as $250 million when accounting for marketing costs.

Critical reception has been highly polarized. While some reviewers praise Tom Cruise’s transformative performance as oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, others describe the film as messy, pretentious, or repetitive. The film’s narrative, which explores themes of environmental catastrophe and industrial power, has divided audiences, particularly due to its use of breaking the fourth wall.

The financial struggles of “Digger” coincide with a major industry shift as Paramount completes its acquisition of Warner Bros., forming a new entity under Skydance. This merger marks a significant consolidation in the Hollywood studio system.