Tom Cruise's latest film, Digger, has experienced its worst opening weekend at the domestic box office in nearly two decades. The movie grossed just $8 million, a figure comparable to Lions for Lambs, which earned $6.7 million during its opening weekend in 2007. This marks a significant downturn for the typically box-office dominant star, especially following the immense success of Top Gun: Maverick.
Digger was a costly production, with reports indicating an upwards of $160 million spent on its development. Its debut placed it as the fifth highest-grossing film of the weekend, falling behind newcomers like Verity, which took the top spot with $32.6 million. Other films performing better include Resident Evil ($12.5 million), Heart of the Beast ($11 million), and Primetime ($8 million).
The underperformance of Digger may be attributed to its divisive nature among both critics and audiences. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film features multiple significant twists and diverges from conventional narrative structures. Unlike the broad appeal of Top Gun: Maverick, Digger was not expected to achieve the same level of mass market success. Critics suggest that a deeper appreciation for the film might emerge over time as audiences engage with its unique and complex themes.
Polygon's own review noted that Digger might not meet conventional financial or critical benchmarks, suggesting that this outcome could be beneficial given Iñárritu's apparent intent to challenge such standards. The film's originality and unconventional approach, while artistically ambitious, may not translate to immediate commercial triumph, raising questions about the expectations placed on highly original works within the current industry landscape.