Tom Cruise Comedy 'Digger' Flops at Box Office with $8M North American Opening
Tom Cruise and director Alejandro González Iñárritu's high-budget dark comedy "Digger" flopped at the box office, opening with a dismal $8 million in North America and facing massive projected losses.
Tom Cruise's latest cinematic venture, the high-budget dark comedy "Digger" directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, suffered a disastrous box office debut, grossing only $8 million in North America and landing in fifth place.
Massive Budget and Disappointing Returns
With a production budget soaring between $160 million and $180 million—plus an estimated $100 million in global marketing—industry analysts estimate the film needed around $350 million worldwide to break even. Warner Bros. initially approved the project at $125 million, but costs escalated as production dragged on. To make matters worse, Cruise's lucrative deal grants him a percentage of the gross from the very first dollar, leaving the studio facing potential theatrical losses of $150 million to $200 million.
"The comedy walks a fine line, and when it misses, it misses," noted box office analyst David A. Gross.
Global Struggles and Critical Backlash
International markets offered little relief, pulling in just $12 million across 73 overseas territories for a sluggish $20 million global opening. The satirical R-rated film, which features Cruise as an oil tycoon bracing for an ecological disaster, also faced widespread negative reviews from critics and audiences alike. Despite high-profile promotional efforts—including a London premiere attended by Prince William and Kate Middleton—the movie failed to capture mainstream interest during a difficult year for Warner Bros., which has yet to see a 2026 release cross the $100 million domestic threshold.
