Tom Cruise’s latest film, Digger, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, is shaping up to be one of the biggest flops in box office history. The R-rated environmental satire earned just $8 million in its domestic opening and $20 million globally, and ticket sales fell 60% in its second weekend, earning $14.4 million domestically and $35.3 million globally. The film is projected to lose $245 million, according to knowledgeable sources. Warner Bros. is expected to write down a larger loss than initially anticipated. The film’s break-even point is around $350 million globally, though a studio spokesperson claims it’s $300 million.
Digger had a production budget of $125 million, which ballooned to $160 million to $180 million due to delays, with an additional marketing budget of about $100 million. It’s expected to earn roughly $50 million globally. The film has been supported by Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Guillermo del Toro, and Mandy Patinkin, but its poor reception has led to a scaled-back Oscar campaign, which typically costs around $15 million. Warner Bros. is facing a larger write-down than expected, adding to a challenging year for the studio, which recently merged with Paramount.