Tom Cruise stars as a corrupt oil tycoon in Alejandro G. Inarritu’s dark comedy Digger, a film that has sharply divided critics and audiences. The Warner Bros. release opened in North American theaters on October 2, 2026, to a polarized reception and a disappointing box office debut.
In the film, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a third-generation oil baron whose drilling operations in Greenland trigger a methane explosion and dislodge a massive ice shelf headed toward Europe. The character is described as arrogant, impulsive, and devoted primarily to his dying cat and his family legacy.
Cruise underwent a dramatic physical transformation for the role. He appears grey, jowly, balding, and pot-bellied under prosthetic makeup, a stark departure from his action-star persona. The performance has been called his most outlandish in more than a decade.
Riz Ahmed plays Dr. Ganesh, Digger’s exasperated environmental scientist. John Goodman portrays President Compson, a volatile and elderly commander-in-chief. Sandra Huller appears as Digger’s half-sister Emma, while Jesse Plemons and Sophie Wilde have roles that critics say are best left unspoiled due to a major narrative twist.
Approximately thirty minutes into the film, a structural reveal reframes the entire narrative. What initially appears to be a straightforward climate satire is revealed to be a rehearsal of a play based on the events depicted. Cruise’s character is actually an actor named Curtis Markson playing Digger Rockwell.
The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score sits at approximately 51 percent from critics, while the audience score is higher at 71 percent. CinemaScore audiences gave the film a C+ grade. Box office projections suggest a domestic opening weekend of around $7.5 to $8 million, which would be Cruise’s lowest since 2007’s Lions for Lambs.
USA Today’s Brian Truitt awarded the film three out of four stars and wrote that Cruise ‘is the best thing about Inarritu’s latest effort.’ The review called the film ‘an intriguing trajectory for someone who, for the past decade or so, has seemed like the world’s most famous stuntman.’
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman was more critical, writing that the film ‘failed to actually be funny’ and describing it as ‘so full of itself — so top-heavy with importance.’ He added that the film’s budget, reported at over $125 million, ‘is a testament to the arrogance of the filmmakers.’
IndieWire’s David Ehrlich wrote that the film ‘should be fun, but it’s not even funny,’ comparing its satire to ‘an IMAX-sized JibJab cartoon.’ The Wrap compared the humor to ‘the week’s worst Saturday Night Live sketch’ given ‘an inexplicably large budget.’
The New Indian Express offered a more positive assessment, awarding four out of five stars. Its review stated that the film is ‘as much a critique of the world elites as it is a commentary on climate change,’ and praised Cruise’s work as ‘one of Tom Cruise’s greatest performances.’
Following the disappointing box office returns, Cruise posted behind-the-scenes photos from the production on X. He wrote: ‘Digger is officially in theaters and I am so honored 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.’
Guillermo del Toro publicly defended the film on social media. ‘Entirely Petty headline,’ he wrote in response to a critical review. ‘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.’
Del Toro also compared the negative reception to that of The Big Lebowski, The King of Comedy, and The Counselor, all of which initially drew scrutiny but later found appreciation. In another post, he wrote: ‘Dig or Die – c’mon!’
At the India box office, Digger collected only Rs 1.30 crore gross over its first two days from 468 screens on Day 2. The film faced stiff competition from the Indian release Drishyam 3, which amassed over Rs 115 crore in the same period.
Digger was produced on a budget of at least $125 million. The film’s runtime is 2 hours and 9 minutes. It is rated R.
Cruise is set to return to familiar territory with the second installment of the Days of Thunder franchise, slated for release in 2028.
