Tom Cruise Defends 'Digger' Amid Box Office Disappointment and Critical Reviews
Actor expresses pride in the Alejandro G. Iñárritu-directed satirical black comedy, despite its weak opening weekend and mixed critical reception.
Tom Cruise has publicly defended his latest film, "Digger," asserting his pride in the project despite its lackluster box office debut and critical panning. The 64-year-old actor shared his sentiments on Instagram the day after the satirical black comedy, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, opened on Friday, October 2.
"I am so honored to have had the opportunity to create this film alongside such talented artists," Cruise wrote in a caption accompanying photos from the set. "Thank you to the entire cast and crew for your dedication, hard work, and joy. The experience was truly unforgettable and I'm so proud of what we created."
"Digger" reportedly earned $8 million on its opening day, a stark contrast to the $33 million debut of "Verity," an adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel starring Anne Hathaway, released the same weekend. Industry predictions suggest "Digger" might open with less than $10 million for its first weekend, potentially marking one of the lowest openings of Cruise's career in nearly two decades, with his 2007 film "Lions for Lambs" being a comparable box office disappointment.
The film, which reportedly cost upwards of $125 million to produce, features Cruise in a nearly unrecognizable appearance, utilizing prosthetics and a wig to portray wealthy oil tycoon Digger Rockwell. The plot follows his character as he attempts to rectify a catastrophic ecological disaster he initiated. The politically charged satire also features John Goodman as the U.S. President and is understood to comment on climate issues and corporate greed.
Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro also spoke out in defense of "Digger," responding to critical appraisals on X, formerly Twitter. He described one review as "entirely petty" and asserted that the film delivers on "scale, ambition and reach at a theatrical screen level," calling it "daring, bold and Cinematically complex."
Despite support from del Toro and some positive reviews, such as one from Collider praising Cruise's "bizarre but brilliant performance," "Digger" received a C+ from CinemaScore and holds a "rotten" rating of 51 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The Boston Globe characterized the film as a "turgid, unfunny, and borderline unwatchable 128 minute mess," while Den of Geek suggested it "forgets the statement must still work as anything more than a self-flagellating valediction from a movie star."
