Overview
- Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, follows an oil tycoon whose company triggers an ecological disaster and is scheduled for international release on September 30 and North American release on October 2.
- The film played high-profile premieres in London and Los Angeles, with the Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday drawing particular attention to Cruise’s extensive prosthetic makeup and the film’s theatrical production design.
- Critics are sharply divided: several reviews call the picture a bold, brilliant gamble while others call it a misfire, and many note a studio request that critics not disclose a mid-film reveal.
- Tom Cruise’s heavily made-up, physically transformed performance is generating strong awards conversation, and many reviews also single out Riz Ahmed for a standout supporting turn.
- Warner Bros. has mounted a wide theatrical and technical push—including large-format presentations and cross-demographic marketing—which industry observers say raises the stakes for the film to meet high commercial break-even targets.