In brief
Tom Cruise’s satirical black comedy Digger has crashed through a crippling second weekend, dropping 60 % in sales and earning only $35 million worldwide. With a $280 million production and marketing bill, analysts predict a loss of roughly $245 million, ranking it with historic misfires such as Cutthroat Island. The film’s performance contrasts sharply with recent Cruise successes and may rank against dozen‑million‑budget flops of the past decade.
Last week, Tom Cruise announced that he would forego the typical “opening‑weekend” focus in favor of a longer narrative arc for his new satirical black comedy Digger. The film has yet to deliver—after a 60 % plunge in ticket sales during its second weekend, global earnings stand at only $35 million.
Analysts estimate a loss of about $245 million against a $280 million production and marketing cost, potentially making Digger one of the biggest flops in Hollywood history and putting it in the same class as 1995’s Cutthroat Island and 2002’s The Adventures of Pluto Nash.
Box‑Office Breakdown
Warner Bros says the film would need to gross roughly $350 million worldwide to break even, factoring in theater cuts and an awards‑season spend. A studio spokesman later clarified the breakeven figure at $300 million—still a tall order, and the film’s final tally was just about $50 million.
Contrast With Recent Cruise Hits
While the latest Top Gun and Mission: Impossible franchises have boomed at the box office, Digger’s dismal performance is a stark outlier—and a painful lesson for the superstar’s brand.
Director and Critical Reception
Birdman, Babel and The Revenant helmer Alejandro G. Iñárritu leads the project, but the film suffered a flurry of negative reviews. In response, Warner launched a new marketing push urging audiences to “decide for yourself.”
Industry Context
Digger’s fate may influence Warner’s strategy amid Paramount’s recent takeover of the studio, as highlighted in related coverage of the $110 bn merger.
For further details, check the full article on BBC News.
