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yesterday

Digger Opens to $8 Million, Tom Cruise’s Lowest Debut Since 2007

The weak launch heightens financial pressure on Warner Bros. because reported production cost growth has pushed the film’s breakeven toward roughly $300–350 million during the studio’s pending merger.

In "Digger," Tom Cruise plays a greedy, gluttonous Texan oil man — or does he?
Amid the dizzying headlines around the film, which also stars Riz Ahmed as Digger's top scientific advisor, Warner Bros. is now urging audiences to see what all the fuss is about.
Cruise and co-star Sandra Hüller, as Digger's haf-sister Emma, are part of an ensemble of top actors who signed on to the climate satire, which has provided divisive in early screenings.
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Overview

  • The Alejandro G. Iñárritu film opened in roughly 3,300 North American theatres and is estimated to have earned about $8 million for the weekend after roughly $3.3–3.4 million from previews and Friday showings.
  • Reports say the production budget rose from an initial $125 million to somewhere between $160–180 million, which industry estimates say lifts the global breakeven to about $300–350 million while Warner Bros. has contested the top-end figure.
  • Critical reaction and audience response are sharply split, with roughly a 51 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a C+ CinemaScore from moviegoers, weakening the film’s word-of-mouth and awards prospects.
  • Warner Bros. has shifted marketing to highlight positive international reviews and the film’s large-format presentation, and Tom Cruise posted public praise for the cast and crew defending the project.
  • Industry observers warn the flop-like start could carry reputational and financial consequences for Warner Bros. as the studio completes its Paramount Skydance acquisition and several top film executives prepare to exit.