Despite the highly anticipated return of a renowned actor to serious roles, the film “Digger,” directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, is on track to be one of the year’s biggest box-office failures. The dark comedy’s budget skyrocketed from $125 million US to an estimated $160-180 million US, with a break-even point projected at around $350 million US, inclusive of marketing expenses. Warner Bros. disputed this, stating that their break-even threshold is approximately $300 million US.
The movie only grossed $1.2 million US in previews and is forecasted by Warner to earn a meager $12-15 million US domestically in its opening weekend, adding to the studio’s underwhelming performance in 2026. Skipping traditional film festivals, “Digger,” a peculiar tale about an oil magnate confronting the consequences of his drilling activities, relied on word-of-mouth and star power to draw audiences to cinemas.
Directed by Iñárritu, known for his award-winning films “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” “Digger” faced early criticism that has dampened its prospects. Despite receiving praise from some critics, the film’s experimental nature and polarizing reception led many to doubt its financial success. This setback poses a challenge for Warner Bros., whose 2026 slate has seen only moderate hits like “Wuthering Heights,” “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy,” and “Evil Dead Burn,” none of which crossed the $100 million US mark domestically.
If “Digger” fails to recover, it may join the ranks of 2026’s major flops like “Melania” and “Desert Warrior.” Despite its disappointing performance, there is speculation that Tom Cruise’s performance could still attract Oscar attention and find success on streaming platforms. However, the film’s failure coincides with Warner Bros.’ impending acquisition by Paramount and the departure of key film executives, raising concerns about the conglomerate’s future artistic endeavors.