Hollywood icon Tom Cruise faced a rare setback with the recent box office performance of the dark comedy ‘Digger’. Often celebrated for his massive box office hits, Cruise’s latest film resulted in one of the most disappointing openings in his illustrious career.
Cruise had previously earned acclaim for insisting on a theatrical-only release for Top Gun: Maverick, which grossed an impressive $1.5 billion globally. This move cemented his reputation as Paramount’s ‘golden boy’, valued for supporting traditional theatrical releases.
Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Digger struggled with earnings, grossing just $8 million domestically and $12 million internationally. This was a stark contrast to its production cost, reportedly between $125 million and $150 million, and an additional marketing expense of $100 million.
‘One movie doesn’t erase decades of success or the value he brings to a studio,’ stated Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak, highlighting Cruise’s long-standing influence in Hollywood.
Despite the setback, Cruise remains a sought-after star in the industry. Lessons from Digger’s release will likely focus on budget management and audience expectations.
The weekend’s leading box office film was Amazon MGM’s Verity, grossing $32.6 million. The thriller directed by Michael Showalter featured stars like Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett. Adaptations of Colleen Hoover’s works continue to perform well at the box office.
Sony’s Resident Evil and Paramount’s Heart of the Beast followed, earning $12.5 million and $11 million, respectively. Meanwhile, Digger faced criticism with a 51% Rotten Tomatoes score, despite an extensive promotional push by Cruise.
The film premiered in London on September 22, attended by Prince William and Princess Catherine. The premiere was also a royal charity event supporting the UK’s Film and TV Charity. Other attendees included David Beckham and his family.
The weak debut comes amid Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Industry analysts like Dergarabedian believe Cruise’s star power won’t diminish despite Digger’s underperformance. Cruise’s association with high-grossing, action-driven franchises remains strong. Dergarabedian explained, ‘The challenge was that having Tom Cruise as the star didn’t automatically make it a blockbuster.’