Tom Cruise’s Digger is heading toward a massive box-office disaster, with projected theatrical losses now reaching $245 million after the film suffered a 60% decline during its second weekend. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the expensive environmental satire has collected just $35.3 million worldwide after ten days, raising the possibility that it could become one of Hollywood’s biggest commercial disappointments.
According to Variety, Digger earned $14.4 million domestically through its second weekend, following an underwhelming $8 million North American debut. The film opened with $20 million worldwide, but declining ticket sales have significantly weakened its financial outlook.
Why Digger Could Lose $245 Million
The film’s enormous production and marketing expenses are central to its financial difficulties.
Originally budgeted at $125 million, production costs reportedly climbed to between $160 million and $180 million. Warner Bros. also spent approximately $100 million on global marketing.
Industry estimates suggest Digger would need around $350 million worldwide to break even theatrically, although a Warner Bros. representative placed that figure closer to $300 million.
With its global theatrical total now projected to finish around $50 million, recovering those costs through ticket sales appears extremely unlikely.
Importantly, the $245 million figure is a projected loss, not a confirmed final financial result. Streaming, television and other distribution revenue could influence the film’s eventual financial performance.
Hollywood Support Fails to Reverse Digger’s Decline
Despite its commercial struggles, Digger has attracted support from prominent Hollywood figures.
Anne Hathaway, Guillermo del Toro, Jane Fonda and Mandy Patinkin have publicly encouraged audiences to watch the film. Hathaway even awarded it five stars on Letterboxd, praising its unconventional storytelling.
However, those endorsements have not produced a significant box-office recovery.
The film stars Cruise as a wealthy oil tycoon attempting to prevent a catastrophe connected to his own actions. Its darkly satirical tone marks a departure from the action blockbusters that have defined much of his recent career.
With worldwide earnings unlikely to approach its theatrical break-even target, Digger is facing a serious financial setback. Its disappointing performance also highlights the commercial risks of expensive, original films, even when backed by major stars and acclaimed filmmakers.
