Tom Cruise defends “Digger” after box-office flop: “I am proud of what we created”

Tom Cruise as oil magnate Digger Rockwell in ‘Digger’ (Warner Bros.)

Tom Cruise is not ready to declare “Digger” a loss, even after the film opened poorly at the box office. On Saturday, October 3, the actor posted behind-the-scenes photos from filming on X, thanking the cast and crew for their work, as The Wrap reports.

“‘Digger’ is officially in cinemas and I am very honored to have had the opportunity to create this film alongside such talented artists,” Cruise wrote. “Thank you to the entire cast and crew for your dedication, hard work and joy. The experience was truly unforgettable and I am proud of what we created.”

Despite the actor’s enthusiasm, the film opened weakly: $7.5 million over the weekend from 3,321 screens, on a budget of at least $125 million (some reports put it above $160 million). It is Cruise’s weakest opening since “Lions for Lambs” (2007), which debuted with $6.7 million.

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s film has divided critics and audiences: a C+ grade on CinemaScore, 51% from critics and 71% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Cruise plays oil magnate Digger Rockwell, whose arrogance and greed cause a global catastrophe, and the president (John Goodman) asks him to “dig” his way out of the mess. Director Guillermo del Toro also came to the film’s defense this week, calling it “bold and cinematically powerful.”

“Digger” is considered an awards play for Cruise: the actor has won an honorary Oscar but has never received an acting statuette from the Academy, as The Wrap notes. Despite the low figures, his enthusiasm for the film remains unchanged.