Tom Cruise Film 'Digger' Poised for Major Box Office Loss
The satirical black comedy faces an estimated deficit of up to $245 million due to poor ticket sales.
Tom Cruise's latest film, "Digger," is projected to lose approximately $245 million, according to Hollywood analysts, following a significant downturn in its box office performance. The satirical black comedy, in which Cruise stars as oil magnate Digger Rockwell, saw ticket sales drop by about 60% in its second weekend.
"Digger" has so far grossed around $35 million globally. The film's estimated production and marketing costs combined are reported to be $280 million.
This performance could mark "Digger" as one of Hollywood's largest box office failures. The film's financial standing contrasts sharply with the recent successes of franchise entries like "Top Gun" and "Mission: Impossible," which also feature Cruise. The film is directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, known for his work on "Birdman," "Babel," and "The Revenant."
Industry publication Variety forecasts that "Digger" will conclude its theatrical run with approximately $50 million worldwide. To break even, the film would need to earn around $350 million, factoring in its budget, marketing expenditures, the share of ticket sales allocated to theaters, and potential spending on an awards campaign.
A Warner Bros. spokesperson, however, offered a slightly different break-even figure to Variety, stating it to be $300 million. "Digger" was the studio's last standalone release before its acquisition by Paramount.
Cruise himself commented last week that he does not focus on opening weekend figures when making films, instead prioritizing the creation of movies that he hopes will "translate, last and evolve."