Cruise's 'Digger' Opens to Record-Low Numbers for the Star in Nearly Two Decades

Warner Bros.' $125 million satirical film 'Digger' is underperforming significantly with an estimated $8 million opening weekend, marking Cruise's lowest box office debut since 2007's 'Lions for Lambs.' The Alejandro G. Iñárritu project, which features Cruise in a transformative role as an overweight oil executive, fell short of the studio's already modest projections of $12 million to $15 million. Critical reception has been mixed, with a 51 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and divided reviews, though the studio hopes award potential could help the film gain traction.

Warner Bros. is navigating significant institutional change as the $125 million satirical project stumbles at the box office. The studio's leadership transition—with De Luca and Abdy departing before the Paramount Skydance merger closes in October—coincides with mixed commercial and critical performance across its 2026 slate. This comes after the studio achieved notable success earlier in 2025 with award-winning releases, suggesting shifting audience preferences or timing challenges for its current lineup.

Cruise's participation in the film represented a departure from his recent trajectory toward franchise-driven action blockbusters. By adopting a transformative role under acclaimed auteur Iñárritu's direction, the actor attempted to reclaim territory from earlier career phases when he collaborated with filmmaker-driven projects. The C+ audience score and modest critical reception underscore how contemporary viewers may respond differently to prestige-oriented fare compared to spectacle-heavy entertainment.