Tom Cruise’s new movie Digger faces major box office pressure

Tom Cruise’s Digger faces box office pressure as Warner Bros. prepares for the film’s October 2 release

Tom Cruise’s upcoming film Digger is facing a challenging box office outlook as Warner Bros. prepares for the release of the star-led comedy on October 2.

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, Digger is an R-rated original comedy starring Cruise as a powerful oil tycoon whose company becomes linked to an environmental disaster. The film is among Warner Bros.’ major releases for the fall and arrives during a difficult year for the studio.

The movie is currently projected to open with between $12 million and $15 million in North America, according to the report. Earlier estimates had placed its opening between $18 million and $20 million.

The film was initially approved with a reported budget of $125 million, although four sources cited in the report said production costs increased to between $160 million and $180 million. Warner Bros. disputed those figures. The studio also disputed estimates that put the movie’s global theatrical break-even point at roughly $350 million, saying it is closer to $300 million.

Digger marks Cruise’s first original film since 2017’s American Made. The actor remains closely associated with major action franchises, including Mission: Impossible, while Top Gun: Maverick became a major box office success in 2022.

However, Cruise’s two most recent Mission: Impossible films saw lower box office returns than earlier entries in the franchise. For Digger, the actor has taken part in an extensive promotional campaign, including appearances on the New Heights podcast and a GQ cover story.

The film could also benefit from Iñárritu’s previous success with films including The Revenant and Birdman. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. is looking ahead to December’s Dune: Part III as another major release.