Newsletters
Tom Cruise's latest film, Digger, opened to just $20 million worldwide, marking one of the weakest box-office debuts of the Hollywood star's career as its costly production struggled to draw audiences during its first weekend in theaters.
The Warner Bros. satire, directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu, brought in $8 million in North America and another $12 million from international markets, according to recent media reports.
The opening puts pressure on a film that reportedly cost at least $125 million to make, with some estimates placing the production budget as high as $150 million. An additional $100 million was estimated to have been spent on marketing.
The gap between Digger's reported costs and its opening-weekend earnings could leave Warner Bros. facing significant losses if the film fails to pick up momentum in the coming weeks.
The disappointing start also stands out because of the names behind the project. Inarritu won consecutive Academy Awards for best director, taking the prize for Birdman in 2015 before following it up with The Revenant in 2016.
Cruise, meanwhile, has remained one of Hollywood's most prominent box-office stars in recent years, driven in part by the Mission: Impossible franchise and Top Gun: Maverick.
Ahead of its theatrical release, Digger received mixed to negative reviews, after which Warner Bros. rolled out an unusual advertising campaign that encouraged moviegoers to "decide for yourself."
As early box-office signs pointed to a difficult opening, Cruise posted a message on social media Saturday expressing pride in the production and thanking those involved in making it.
"Digger is officially in theaters, and I am so honored to have had the opportunity to create this film alongside such talented artists," Cruise said.
1 min read
"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 opening weekend now leaves Digger trying to make up ground after beginning its theatrical run far below the scale of its reported production and promotional spending.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
