Despite a prominent actor’s return to serious acting, a two-time Academy Award-winning director, and significant media attention, the film “Digger” seems poised to be one of the biggest box office failures of the year. According to reports, the dark comedy directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise experienced a budget increase from $125 million to $160-180 million, with a break-even point estimated around $350 million including marketing costs. Warner Bros. contested this figure, stating their break-even threshold is closer to $300 million.
The movie’s preview earnings were a mere $1.2 million, and industry insiders predict a domestic weekend box office of only $12-15 million, making it a lackluster opening for the studio in a year already marked by underperforming releases. Following a string of unsuccessful films like “The Bride!,” “Supergirl,” “The End of Oak Street,” and “Practical Magic 2,” “Digger” could potentially stand as one of Warner Bros.’s most significant flops in recent years.
“Digger,” a peculiar tale about an oil magnate grappling with the consequences of his drilling activities, took a considerable gamble by bypassing traditional film festivals, relying instead on positive word-of-mouth and star power to draw audiences to theaters. The decision to sidestep early critical feedback and target Cruise enthusiasts made sense, given that it marks the actor’s first non-franchise film since the 2017 biopic “American Made.”
While directed by Iñárritu, known for his acclaimed works like “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” “Digger” faced a wave of negative reviews upon its early screenings, with some critics labeling it as the worst in Cruise’s career. Despite some positive reviews, the general consensus was that the film’s experimental nature might hinder its financial success.
Warner Bros. finds itself in a challenging position in 2026, with a lineup that lacks the blockbuster success of the previous year. While some films like “Wuthering Heights,” “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy,” and “Evil Dead Burn” garnered moderate success, none of Warner’s releases this year have crossed the $100 million mark domestically.
The failure of “Digger” could place it among the year’s other major flops, such as “Melania” and “Desert Warrior.” However, there is still speculation that the film could hold value for Warner Bros., potentially through awards recognition for Cruise or popularity on streaming platforms.
As Warner Bros. nears its acquisition by Paramount, the disappointing performance of “Digger” coincides with reports that key figures like Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy might not continue with the studio post-merger. The film’s bold thematic choices and poor box office returns may signal challenges ahead for the conglomerate’s future artistic endeavors.