Tom Cruise’s latest feature Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, has fallen flat at the box office, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. The film, which stars Cruise as a crowdfunded vigilante miner in a crime-ridden, post-apocalyptic Southern California, grossed a mere $8 million from 3,300 North American theaters during its opening weekend, a far cry from the projected $12 million to $15 million.
The film has been heavily criticized by reviewers, with THR’s David Rooney declaring it “dead and buried.” It currently holds a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes and received a C+ CinemaScore, one of the lowest of Cruise’s career.
Internationally, Digger earned $12 million, bringing its global total to $20 million. This is a significant underperformance for a film initially reported to have a $125 million budget, though some sources claim it ballooned to $180 million—a figure disputed by a studio representative.
This marks Cruise’s lowest domestic opening since 2007’s Lions for Lambs, which debuted to $6.7 million. The results are a major financial blow for Warner Bros., which had hoped to capitalize on the star power of Cruise and Iñárritu.
Despite the disappointing numbers, Cruise remains optimistic, stating that he’s “so proud of what we’ve created.” Industry insiders, however, are already questioning the viability of his next project, Days of Thunder 2.
In contrast, the female-driven thriller Verity dominated the weekend box office, earning $32.6 million from 3,510 North American theaters. The film, produced for just $40 million, has been a surprise hit with audiences and could potentially end up in the black.
The box office failures come as Warner Bros. undergoes significant changes. Studio chiefs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy have been ousted, with Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein taking over. The shakeup is part of the ongoing turmoil surrounding the impending merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros., slated for October 6.