Tom Cruise has spent years turning theatrical releases into major events, but this weekend brought a very different result. Digger opened to just $8 million domestically and $20 million worldwide, marking the actor’s lowest opening in 19 years. According to Deadline, the Warner Bros release carried a net production cost of about $160 million and could lose roughly $150 million. The film also landed a C+ CinemaScore, a rough sign for audience reception as the studio tries to recover from a pricey original project built around one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Warner Bros Backed a Costly Original Film
The movie began as an Alejandro G. Iñárritu project that first took shape at Netflix before moving to Legendary and later Warner Bros. Once Cruise joined, the scale changed fast. The studio’s film chiefs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy backed the project through their originals deal with the actor, betting that the pairing of Cruise and Iñárritu could justify a major spend. That wager grew even larger as the shoot expanded in the UK, with reports that marketing pushed total global costs far beyond the production budget alone.
Tom Cruise Praised Studio Chiefs at the Premiere
At the Los Angeles premiere, Cruise publicly saluted the executives who backed the film. “You didn’t even take a breath when we brought you this film. I don’t even think you turned the page on it. You’re just like — you’re in,” said Tom Cruise according to Deadline. The quote now lands differently as the film struggles. Its release date was also a prime corridor for Warner Bros, the same early October frame that once helped launch major hits including Joker and A Star Is Born.
Reviews and Tracking Turned Against Digger
Early tracking suggested a domestic opening between $17 million and $23 million, but momentum faded as reviews came in. The film sits at 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, and online reaction grew more skeptical in the final stretch. RelishMix reported mixed-negative chatter, with many viewers unsure what kind of movie the trailers were selling. Some questioned whether the film was satire, self-parody, or an awkward star vehicle hidden under heavy makeup. Younger moviegoers did turn up in stronger numbers than expected, but not at a level that could offset the broader drop-off.
David Ellison Era Starts With Tough Questions
The timing adds another layer for Warner Bros leadership. The miss arrives as David Ellison moves into a larger role following the Skydance-Paramount tie-up, while De Luca and Abdy are already under scrutiny despite a broader run that included several strong commercial performers. One high-level source summed up Cruise’s creative orbit bluntly: “The problem is that there’s no one in Cruise’s camp to tell him ‘no,’ and what might not work,” according to Deadline. For Warner Bros, the result is a painful reminder that star power alone cannot carry an expensive original drama.
