Tom Cruise's Digger drops 60% in week two, heads for a $245 million loss
Representative image: sebastiangoessl / Pixabay
Digger, Tom Cruise's satire from Alejandro G. Inarritu, fell about 60% in its second weekend and is tracking to lose about $245 million, Variety reported.
What Happened
Digger, the new Tom Cruise film directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu, is heading for one of the biggest losses in recent Hollywood history. The Warner Bros. release, which opened on October 2, 2026, fell about 60 per cent in its second weekend, taking an estimated $3.2 million in North America from 3,321 theatres over October 9 to 11 after an $8 million debut, according to Variety. Through its second weekend it had grossed $14.4 million in North America and $35.3 million worldwide. Variety, citing people with knowledge of the numbers, reported that the film is tracking to lose about $245 million over its cinema run, more than the $150 million to $200 million loss Warner Bros. had earlier expected. The studio has disputed parts of the arithmetic, saying the film's break-even point is $300 million in global ticket sales rather than the $350 million Variety estimated.
Key Facts
- Digger opened on October 2, 2026, with about $8 million in North America.
- Its second weekend, October 9 to 11, brought an estimated $3.2 million, a drop of about 60 per cent; Deadline projected a 64 per cent fall.
- Total gross through two weekends: $14.4 million in North America and $35.3 million worldwide.
- Variety reports a projected theatrical loss of about $245 million.
- Reported budget figures differ: Variety says costs rose to $160 million to $180 million, while Warner Bros. executives say the film stayed at its approved $125 million.
- Cruise plays Digger Rockwell in a satire co-written by Inarritu; the cast includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Huller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.
- Reviews are divided: Rotten Tomatoes showed 53 per cent approval from 331 critics, with an audience score of 76 per cent.
Why It Matters
Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood's biggest stars, which makes a result like this stand out. Digger shows the limits of star power when audiences are not sold on the film itself. It pairs Cruise with Inarritu, a director known for serious, ambitious work, in a dark satire about a powerful man who sets out to prove he is humanity's saviour before a disaster he caused destroys everything. That mix appears to have struggled to find a wide audience.
Critics have praised the craft and Cruise's performance but many found the satire heavy. The Hollywood Reporter called it a shallow satire pleased with itself, and RogerEbert.com said it chokes on its own ambitions. Without strong word of mouth, a film that opens softly tends to fade quickly, which is what the second-weekend fall suggests.
The losses matter for the industry. A high-profile failure of a big-budget original film, not based on a franchise, can make them more cautious about backing such projects. At the same time, the dispute over budget and break-even figures is a reminder that early loss estimates are not official accounts; the final number will depend on overseas runs, streaming and other later income.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Opening weekend (North America) | About $8 million |
| Second weekend | About $3.2 million (down about 60%) |
| Worldwide total after two weekends | $35.3 million |
| Projected loss (Variety) | About $245 million |
| Break-even estimate | $350 million (Variety) vs $300 million (Warner Bros.) |
Impact
Short-term: Third-weekend figures will show whether the decline continues; on current projections the film's cinema total is far short of break-even.
Long-term: The result may make studios more cautious about expensive original projects, even with top stars, and could shape how Cruise and Inarritu choose their next films.
Who is affected: Warner Bros. and its investors, the film's makers and cast, cinema chains that gave it wide release, and audiences who may see fewer risky big-budget originals.
Key Takeaway
Tom Cruise's Digger fell about 60 per cent in its second weekend and is projected to lose around $245 million, a stark sign that star power cannot rescue a film audiences reject.
Questions and Answers
How much money has Tom Cruise's Digger made?
Through its second weekend, October 9 to 11, 2026, Digger had grossed $14.4 million in North America and $35.3 million worldwide.
How much will Digger lose?
Variety, citing people familiar with the numbers, reports the film is tracking to lose about $245 million in cinemas. Warner Bros. says the break-even point is $300 million, lower than Variety's $350 million estimate.
Who directed Digger and what is it about?
Alejandro G. Inarritu directed it. Tom Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a powerful man trying to prove he is humanity's saviour before a disaster he caused destroys everything.
Why did Digger flop at the box office?
Reviews were mixed, with critics praising the craft but faulting the satire, and the film dropped about 60 per cent in its second weekend, suggesting weak word of mouth.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
