Tom Cruise's 'Digger' Heads for $12M-$15M Opening Against Big Budget

Tom Cruise's Digger opens on 2 October with a $12 million to $15 million start expected in North America, the United States and Canada, according to tracking reported by Variety on 30 September.

That range is down. Projections had pointed to $18 million to $20 million before they were revised lower in recent days, Variety reported. It is a soft launch for a large production.

The Warner Bros. film is directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Cruise stars as a powerful oil tycoon whose company sparks an ecological calamity, with the character identified in earlier reporting as Texas oil baron Digger Rockwell.

The money behind it is substantial. Digger was greenlit at $125 million, Variety reported. Knowledgeable sources told the trade publication the budget climbed to $160 million to $180 million after production went over schedule. A Warner Bros. spokesperson disputes those higher figures.

Rival executives told Variety that a film of that size would need an opening near $40 million to justify its cost. Warner Bros. spent another $100 million on marketing, the publication reported.

The break-even maths is also in dispute. Executives with knowledge of similar films put the theatrical break-even point at roughly $350 million globally. A Warner Bros. spokesperson puts it at $300 million, Variety reported.

Cruise has first-dollar gross on the film, meaning he earns a percentage of revenues before the studio recovers its costs, according to Variety. That type of deal is usually reserved for stars who can open a film.

The release is a change of pace for Cruise. Digger is his first original movie since 2017's American Made, Variety reported. Warner Bros. describes it as an original film by Iñárritu and says it will play only in theatres from 2 October.

Cruise has pushed the film hard. He appeared on Travis and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast and sat for his first cover story in two decades with GQ magazine, Variety reported. His transformation took six hours in make-up at first before the time was reduced, Variety reported on 18 September. Warner Bros. has also released an ad highlighting negative reviews and asking moviegoers to “decide for yourself”, Variety reported on 29 September.

What makes this stand out is the timing. Warner Bros., led by co-chairs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca, is releasing one of its biggest autumn bets while Paramount Skydance hopes to imminently close its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Variety reported.