Ben Affleck has drawn a parallel between the public's reaction to the box office performance of Tom Cruise's film Digger and "high-school bullying." He expressed concern that the eagerness to celebrate the movie's financial struggles could discourage Hollywood from taking creative risks.
Digger is reportedly projected to lose approximately $250 million by the end of its theatrical run, with Warner Bros. anticipating a global total of around $40 million. The film's opening weekend garnered only $8 million domestically and $12 million internationally, and its cumulative global earnings stand at $35.3 million after two weeks in theaters. Reports indicate Digger may rank among the biggest box office flops in Hollywood history.
The film, directed by two-time Best Director Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, has received a mixed reception from both critics and audiences. Despite efforts to counter the narrative and support from other Hollywood figures, Digger has struggled to recover from its disappointing initial performance.
Speaking on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Affleck stated that a punitive reaction to films that take chances could result in a future dominated by sequels and adaptations of existing intellectual property. "If you punish movies that take risks, guess what you're going to get? A bunch of s homogenized movies," he argued. "You cannot do something interesting without taking a big swing. And that means you're going to sometimes look bad."
Digger currently holds a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, with a more favorable 74% user score on its Popcornmeter. IGN's review awarded the film a 6/10, noting that while its satire might not change perspectives on global warming, it features strong performances and comedic moments.
An advertising campaign for Digger that notably referenced negative reviews failed to significantly impact the film's box office trajectory. Tom Cruise has not yet made an official public statement regarding the film's performance.