Overview
- Digger, which drew press screenings and reviews on Thursday, Oct. 1, has left critics sharply split with opinions ranging from calling it a masterpiece to dismissing it as a mess.
- Tom Cruise’s heavily made-up, unrecognizable turn as oil tycoon Digger Rockwell is the focal point of coverage and has generated early awards chatter despite the mixed critical response.
- The film was shot in large-format VistaVision for IMAX and designed as a Brechtian, theatrical satire by Alejandro G. Iñárritu with longtime collaborators including cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.
- Industry reports say the budget climbed into the roughly $160–180 million range and Variety-tracked projections forecast a weak North American opening of about $12–15 million, raising break-even concerns.
- Warner Bros. is proceeding with a theatrical-first rollout on October 2, 2026, using the polarized reactions in marketing while filmmakers and peers including Guillermo del Toro have publicly defended the film.