Tom Cruise and Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Digger Could Lose $250 Million
Reports indicate that Alejandro G. Iñárritu's climate satire Digger, starring Tom Cruise, could lose around $250 million. After an opening weekend of $8 million domestically and $12 million internationally, insiders reportedly expect its worldwide gross to stay below $40 million. Warner Bros. has not commented on the projections.
Digger is a climate-themed satire from Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who won consecutive directing Oscars for Birdman and The Revenant, and features Tom Cruise. It opened Oct. 2, 2026, taking $8 million in the U.S. and $12 million abroad. TheWrap reports that people close to Skydance, now overseeing Warner Bros., doubt the film will pass $40 million worldwide. Warner Bros. has declined to address those estimates.
The film has drawn mixed responses from reviewers and moviegoers. Some efforts to turn that divided reception into publicity have not visibly boosted ticket sales. IGN's review praised the production's resources and artistic talent but said the movie is not essential viewing. A reported $250 million loss would dwarf its early box-office returns.
If the projected loss materializes, it could weigh on Warner Bros., Paramount, and Skydance as they navigate their merger, potentially making executives warier of costly, director-driven or politically charged films. Employees, investors, and theater owners may feel knock-on effects if such projects are scaled back. Tom Cruise and Alejandro G. Iñárritu could see their commercial clout questioned, while audiences might get fewer ambitious climate-themed satires. The film's mixed reception may also shape how studios interpret controversial marketing strategies.