Tom Cruise Remains Oscar Frontrunner for 'Digger' Despite Box Office Bomb

Despite its status as one of Hollywood's biggest flops, Tom Cruise is still considered a strong contender for a Best Actor Oscar for his role in the politically-charged satire "Digger." The film, which has divided critics and underperformed at the box office, has not deterred awards trackers from placing Cruise among the favorites for a nomination at next year's Academy Awards.

According to awards tracker Gold Derby, Cruise, 64, is currently ranked in the top five for a potential Oscar nod. He is ahead of other notable contenders, including Ryan Gosling for "Project Hail Mary," Pedro Pascal for "Behemoth!," and Anthony Ippolito for his portrayal of Sylvester Stallone in "I Play Rocky."

The current frontrunner for Best Actor is John Malkovich in "Wild Horse Nine," followed by Matt Damon in "The Odyssey," Andrew Scott in "Elsinore," and Robert Pattinson in "Primetime."

Cruise, who has never won an Oscar, has previously been nominated for "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), "Jerry Maguire" (1996), and "Magnolia" (1999).

While "Digger" is unlikely to receive a Best Picture nomination following its release, Gold Derby suggests the film might still be considered for smaller categories such as Best Cinematography.

Cruise appears to be focusing on an Oscar campaign, having significantly increased his promotional efforts for "Digger" compared to his previous films. He has made numerous talk show appearances, graced the cover of GQ magazine, and attended multiple screenings and premieres.

Following "Digger's" opening weekend, which grossed only $8 million domestically against an estimated budget of over $160 million, Cruise defended the film on Instagram, expressing his honor in creating the project with talented artists and pride in the final product.

During an interview on the "On Film With Kevin McCarthy" podcast, Cruise stated that he is not concerned with the film's initial box office performance, emphasizing his focus on creating "lasting pieces of cinema." He drew parallels to his past films like "Rain Man" and "Born on the Fourth of July," which had extended runs in theaters.

Opinions on "Digger" have begun to shift since its initial reviews. Publications such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Sight & Sound have offered praise, and Daily Mail's Brian Viner awarded the film four out of five stars. The film has also gained traction on social media, with many calling it a "masterpiece." Director Guillermo del Toro has described "Digger" as "daring, bold and cinematically complex."

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Digger" stars Cruise as eccentric oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, who races to rectify a catastrophic ecological disaster he initiated. The film also features John Goodman as the U.S. President.