Warner Bros.
The box office projections for 'Digger' are not good
Tom Cruise’s new movie Digger looks headed for the record books. Just not the record books the actor likely hoped for when signing up for the film.
According to reports, Digger — the first non-action movie that Tom Cruise is starring in in over a decade — could potentially become the biggest box office bomb of 2026, as it’s tracking to make just $12 million in its opening weekend — a number that will likely drop precipitously in its second weekend following likely poor word-of-mouth.
Despite being a drama film, Digger — which was greenlit at $125 million — saw its budget climb to $160 million-$180 million after production went over schedule. For comparison, the biggest box office bomb of 2025 was the Jared Leto-starring Tron: Ares, which lost a reported $130 million.
Tom Cruise’s Digger is tracking for a $12 million domestic debut against a reported $160-180 million budget
In the film, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon trying to save humanity from a disaster he caused, in a non-action role that’s a departure from the Cruise movies that typically fill theaters.
Alongside the iconic Hollywood leading man, Digger also stars Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, and Sandra Hüller. The film debuted to a 53% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes score on the day its review embargo lifted, with many major critics ripping the film: Vulture called the film an “agony” to watch, while the Boston Globe characterized it as a “swing and a miss” for Cruise.
Even at the earlier $19 million projection, Digger would have been the weakest opening among Cruise’s nine films with Warner Bros. The studio is already having a rough year, with Supergirl, Mortal Kombat II, and The End of Oak Street all underperforming.
Cruise’s hope now is that, however divisive the film is among critics and audiences, Academy voters will still take to it and propel him to his long-desired Best Actor Oscar.