Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ becomes one of Hollywood’s biggest box office disappointments

The film’s opening weekend brought in only $20m worldwide, far below studio expectations

Tom Cruise’s latest film, Digger, has ended its theatrical run with approximately $50.3m in worldwide ticket sales, falling far short of the revenue needed to justify its reported production costs.

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the satirical black comedy arrived in cinemas on October 2, 2026. Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an ageing oil tycoon whose drilling activities trigger an environmental catastrophe. The film also stars Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.

Despite its high profile cast and acclaimed director, Digger struggled to attract audiences from its opening weekend. It collected around $8m in North America and $12m internationally, giving it a worldwide debut of approximately $20m. The domestic opening was among Cruise’s weakest as a leading man in recent decades.

‘DIGGER’ ends its theatrical run by earning around $50M globally.

Budget was $180M. pic.twitter.com/NwscYOoUT6

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) November 12, 2026

The film’s reported production budget began at $125m, but Variety reported that costs increased to between $160m and $180m after production ran over schedule. Warner Bros. also faced substantial marketing expenses. A studio spokesperson disputed the suggestion that the film needed $350m to break even, saying that the figure was closer to $300m.

The final theatrical total, recorded by box office tracker The Numbers, stands at approximately $50.3m worldwide. That leaves the film considerably short of either break even estimate, with the studio facing a substantial financial setback.

Its reception was also divided. Some critics praised Cruise’s performance, the film’s visual design and its willingness to take creative risks. Others felt its unusual humour and ambitious approach did not consistently work. The film holds a mixed critical response on Rotten Tomatoes.

Cruise publicly thanked the cast and crew during the film’s opening weekend, expressing pride in the project. Director Iñárritu also defended its provocative approach, while filmmaker Guillermo del Toro voiced support for the film.

Although Digger attracted support from fellow filmmakers, its theatrical performance has left it among 2026’s most notable box office disappointments.