John Goodman believes that a barrage of negative early reviews significantly harmed the box office performance of his latest film, "Digger." The politically charged satire, which also features Tom Cruise, has faced a divided critical reception since its release last month.
"They kinda killed us before we opened," Goodman said in an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. He suggested that headlines predicting a low box office haul gave audiences a reason to avoid the film. Despite the criticism, Goodman expressed pride in the "big swing" directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and anticipates its lasting impact.
"Digger" grossed approximately $8 million domestically and $12 million internationally during its opening weekend. Ticket sales dropped by 60% in the second weekend, bringing the domestic total to $14.4 million and the global total to $35.3 million. With an estimated production budget of up to $170 million before marketing costs, the film is considered a significant box office disappointment.
The movie's plot involves Cruise as a wealthy oil tycoon whose actions lead to an environmental disaster, with him attempting to present himself as the sole solution. Goodman portrays the US President in the film.
Despite the film's commercial struggles, "Digger" has garnered some defenders, including Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Guillermo del Toro, and Ben Affleck. Comedian Bill Burr has also vocally supported the film, criticizing reviewers for not understanding its satirical elements and calling Cruise and Goodman's performances "unbelievable."
On review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, "Digger" has an audience score of 77%, contrasting with a critical score of 53%. Awards-tracking websites have placed Cruise as a potential contender for a Best Actor Oscar nomination, though the category is expected to be highly competitive.