Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s climate crisis satire ‘Digger,’ starring Tom Cruise as an aging oil tycoon, has sparked a sharp divide between critics and audiences since its release on October 2, 2026. The film, which carries a production budget reported between $125 million and $180 million, opened to just $8 million domestically and $20 million worldwide.
A Polarizing Reception
Critical response to ‘Digger’ has been split. The BBC awarded the film four stars, praising its ‘limitless, daredevil ambition,’ while The Telegraph also gave four stars for its ‘beauty, daring and extravagance.’
Other outlets were far less generous. The Times gave the film one star, calling it ‘exhausting.’ The Guardian and The Independent each awarded two stars, and Time branded it ‘aggressively unfunny.’
Warner Bros. responded to the negative reviews with a marketing campaign that acknowledged the film’s divisive nature. A promotional post on X read: ‘Decide for yourself. DIGGER – in theaters and IMAX FRIDAY. Tickets on sale now.’
The film currently holds a 52% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience reception has been warmer, with a 73% audience rating based on more than a thousand reviews.
Box Office Struggles
‘Digger’ opened in fifth place at the North American box office with $8 million from 3,300 screens. This marked Tom Cruise’s lowest opening weekend in 19 years, since the 2007 war drama ‘Lions for Lambs.’
Internationally, the film earned $12 million for a worldwide total of $20 million. In India, ‘Digger’ collected only Rs 1.30 crore over its first two days, facing competition from the release of Ajay Devgn’s ‘Drishyam 3.’
The film earned a C+ CinemaScore, Cruise’s second-lowest rating ever after ‘Vanilla Sky.’ Industry estimates suggest the film could lose approximately $150 million.
Cast and Crew
‘Digger’ stars Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell, alongside Riz Ahmed as Dr. Ganesh, John Goodman as President Compson, and Sandra Hüller as Emma. The supporting cast includes Michael Stuhlbarg, Emma D’Arcy, Robert John Burke, and Jesse Plemons.
Iñárritu directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone, and Sabina Berman. The film was shot entirely in VistaVision by cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.
Industry Support
Several prominent figures in Hollywood have publicly defended the film. Guillermo del Toro wrote on social media: ‘Entirely Petty headline. Love it or not. And, yes, I do. The film delivers in scale, ambition, and reach at a theatrical screen level. Daring, bold, and cinematically complex. Decidedly a Theatrical experience.’
Anne Hathaway posted a five-star review on Letterboxd, writing: ‘It’s smart and trippy and aggressive and funny and ambitious.’
Mandy Patinkin described the film as ‘one of the greatest pieces of film I have ever seen in my entire life’ and urged audiences to see it in theaters. He added: ‘This is one of the most daring, original, provocative pieces of art I’ve seen and bravo to every person that laid a hand on it.’
Cruise Responds
Tom Cruise addressed the film’s reception on social media following its opening. He wrote: ‘Digger is officially in theatres and I am so honoured to have had the opportunity to create this film alongside such talented artists. 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.’
The film remains in theaters and is available in IMAX. Its current worldwide box office total stands at approximately $20.5 million.
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