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Tom Cruiseand “Digger” becomes one of the biggest financial disasters in Hollywood, with audiences continuing to stay away from the ambitious project. The film’s struggle also has Warner Bros.
However, an Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro refuses to let the box-office numbers define the film, chalking up its commercial failure to a challenging supporting performance.
‘Digger’ loses more ground with ticket sales falling 60%.
Tom Cruise’s latest big screen gamble is taking a turn for the worse, with “Digger” suffering another disastrous weekend at the box office.
The film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu earned just $3.2 million at the US and Canadian box office in its second weekend. That marks a staggering 60% drop from its disappointing debut of $8 million.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the latest numbers bring the film’s domestic earnings to just $14.4 million, while the worldwide total is around $35.3 million.
The numbers represent a surprising setback for Cruise, whose reputation as one of Hollywood’s most profitable stars has been buoyed by the film’s performance.
‘Digger’ could leave Warner Bros. with a $245 million hole
The financial outlook for “Digger” doesn’t get any brighter. According to The Guardian, the film is now expected to end its theatrical run with just $50 million worldwide. That would be a disastrous outcome for a product of its size.
The film reportedly cost over $170 million to produce, and Warner Bros. about another $100 million invested in marketing. With these costs heavily dependent on its performance, some industry estimates suggest that the studio could ultimately lose as much as $245 million.
Such a big loss would make “Digger” one of Hollywood’s most expensive disappointments in recent years. It would also bring more scrutiny to Cruise’s decision to take on the unconventional project.
Guillermo Del Toro Presents ‘Digger’ Box Office Records The Brush-Off
Despite the financial problems that the film is getting worse, Guillermo del Toro does not support his protection from “Digger”.
The Oscar-winning director made his feelings clear after seeing X’s post suggesting that the Tom Cruise-led film was made “for the arts, not the charts.” Reposting the message, del Toro offered a quick response: “Love the arts. F-ck the records.”
His comments drew support from fans, some of whom argued that the negative publicity surrounding “Digger” had outweighed its artistic merits. One viewer even suggested that the criticism was unfairly discouraging audiences from seeing the film.
“The story we are being told is not worth seeing. But the reality is that audiences are experiencing one of the best endings in a movie, up there with Planet of the Apes. It left our theater speechless,” the fan wrote.
‘Digger’ could put a record dent in Tom Cruise’s box office legacy
Aside from disappointing ticket sales, “Digger” could leave a lasting mark on Cruise’s impressive box office record. While the film is expected to generate additional revenue through streaming and other post-theatrical releases, industry projections suggest that earnings will do little to offset its high costs.
If the estimates hold, “Digger” will be the biggest financial failure of Cruise’s career and one of the most expensive fires in Hollywood in recent years.
The result is particularly surprising given the star power of the project. Cruise teamed up with Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu for a film that marked a major departure from his usual roles. However, despite its ambitious approach and high-profile backing, the film is struggling to turn that creative investment into commercial success.
Tom Cruise Holds His Head High As ‘Digger’ Struggles
Despite the disappointing reception of the film, Tom Cruise has no regrets about accepting the unconventional project. After his release, the actor described working on “Digger” as an “honor” and an “unforgettable” experience. He also thanked the cast and crew, saying he was proud of what they had created.
Cruise had previously revealed that the role was pushing him into unfamiliar territory. He described his character, eccentric oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, as “absolutely terrible.” The transformation included facial prosthetics and a padded body suit, with the make-up process initially taking six hours.
However, Cruise challenged the team to streamline the process, eventually cutting preparation time to less than an hour. “If you say no, you can’t do it; you’ll never get there,” he recalled telling the cast during an appearance on the “New Heights” podcast.
