Tom Cruise film Digger faces poor box office performance

The new dark comedy Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, has experienced a significant box office failure. Despite an initial release in over 3,300 North American theaters, the film's presence has dropped to approximately 200 theaters. In its opening weekend, the movie earned $8 million domestically against a reported budget of $180 million.

The film follows Digger Rockwell, an aggressive oil industrialist played by Cruise, who attempts to manage a global crisis caused by an explosion on a drilling platform. The story is described as a blend of political satire, climate catastrophe, and black humor. Despite the commercial struggle, Cruise’s performance has garnered attention from fans and some awards predictions, with discussions suggesting he could be a contender for a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

The ensemble cast includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons. In response to Digger’s lackluster performance, theatrical screenings of Cruise’s 2001 psychological thriller, Vanilla Sky, are scheduled to return to some screens in mid-November 2026.