Tom Cruise Defends 'Digger' Amidst Box Office Disappointment and Critical Scrutiny
Actor expresses pride in the satirical black comedy, which has polarized critics and had a soft opening weekend.
Tom Cruise has voiced his strong support for the satirical black comedy "Digger," a film that has faced a challenging reception since its release on Friday, October 2.
Despite the movie being panned by critics and experiencing a disappointing start at the box office, the 64-year-old actor stated he is "so proud of what we created." He took to Instagram the day after the film's opening to express gratitude to the cast and crew.
"I am so honored to have had the opportunity to create this film alongside such talented artists," Cruise wrote in his 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" opened with $8 million on its first day, significantly trailing behind "Verity," an adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel starring Anne Hathaway, which opened with $33 million over the same weekend. The performance of "Digger" could mark Cruise's lowest opening in nearly two decades, with "Lions for Lambs" in 2007 being his last major box office disappointment.
Industry projections for "Digger's" opening weekend vary, with some predicting it could earn less than $10 million, while others, like Box Office Theory, suggest a range of $16 million to $26 million.
The film, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and costing over $125 million to produce, features Cruise in a heavily transformed appearance with prosthetics and a wig, portraying wealthy oil tycoon Digger Rockwell. The plot follows his character's efforts to rectify a catastrophic ecological disaster he inadvertently caused. The politically charged satire also features John Goodman as the dictatorial President of the United States and is interpreted as a commentary on climate issues and corporate greed.
Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has also defended "Digger," calling a critical assessment of the film "entirely petty." He argued on X (formerly Twitter) that the movie "delivers in scale, ambition and reach at a theatrical screen level. Daring, bold and Cinematically complex. Decidedly a Theatrical experience."
Reviews for "Digger" have been sharply divided. Some critics have labeled it a "turgid, unfunny, and borderline unwatchable 128 minute mess," while others have praised Cruise's "bizarre but brilliant performance." The film received a C+ from CinemaScore and currently holds a 51 percent "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it his worst-reviewed film since "The Mummy" in 2017.