Tom Cruise defends 'Digger' after box office flop: ‘You hope to make a film that can last’

Tom Cruise is defending Digger after the film suffered a disappointing opening weekend, saying he does not make movies simply for their opening-weekend performance.

The Alejandro González Iñárritu-directed film earned about $8 million domestically during its first weekend in theatres, despite its reported production budget of $160 million to $180 million. The result marked one of Cruise’s weakest openings in decades.

Cruise had discussed his approach to filmmaking shortly before Digger arrived in cinemas, explaining that he focuses on creating movies that can have a life beyond their initial theatrical release.

“You hope to make a film that can last,” Cruise said, stressing that he does not make films for “opening weekend” alone.

The comments came as Digger struggled to connect with audiences at the box office. The film opened in 3,321 North American theatres and finished behind Verity and several holdover titles, while its international performance also failed to provide the boost that had been expected.

Digger stars Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon who finds himself facing an environmental catastrophe. The satirical black comedy was directed by Iñárritu, whose previous films include Birdman and The Revenant.

Cruise has nevertheless remained supportive of the project. Following its release, he shared behind-the-scenes photographs from the production and praised the cast and crew for their work, describing the experience of making the film as unforgettable.

The film's opening has put significant pressure on its theatrical prospects. Variety reported that Digger cost considerably more than initially expected, with the budget rising from an original figure of around $125 million to as much as $160 million to $180 million. The studio also spent heavily on marketing.

Despite the poor start, Cruise's comments suggest that he is viewing the film's performance beyond its first weekend. For the actor, Digger represents a departure from the action-driven blockbusters that have dominated much of his recent career, and he remains proud of the finished film.