Tom Cruise backs Digger after soft $8 million opening
Tom Cruise has publicly backed Digger after the film opened to about US$8 million in the United States and Canada, in figures reported on 3 October by Deadline.
That weekend estimate arrived ahead of Monday's actuals. It points to a slow start for a big-budget release, which The Hollywood Reporter noted on 3 October in its account of Cruise defending the film.
Cruise addressed the opening in an Instagram post published on 3 October. He said he was proud of what was created with Digger, and honoured to have made it alongside talented artists, according to Deadline's report on the post.
He also thanked the cast and crew for their dedication, hard work and joy. He described the experience of making the film as truly unforgettable, Deadline reported.
The numbers tell a tough opening story. Digger earned US$3.4 million on opening day, Variety reported on 3 October. Before the weekend, the film had been projected to earn US$10 million in North American theatres, Forbes reported on 3 October, a projection already below earlier pre-release forecasts.
That US$8 million weekend would rank among Cruise's smallest openings. Deadline reported it may be his lowest opening since 2007's Lions for Lambs. Verity took No. 1, with US$15.1 million on Friday, Variety reported.
Digger opened in theatres and IMAX on 2 October, Variety reported on 29 September. It was directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Deadline reported. Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon.
The role is a change of pace. It is Cruise's first non-action star vehicle in nearly a decade, Variety reported on 22 September. His transformation for the part initially took six hours in make-up, Variety reported on 18 September. First reactions from members of the film press were split and divisive, Variety reported.
The opening-night audience skewed young and male. Sixty percent of ticket buyers were aged 18 to 34, and more than 70 percent were male, Deadline reported. The film earned a C+ CinemaScore, an opening-night audience poll graded from A+ to F.
For fans, this means the conversation around Digger is now about staying power. A low opening does not set the final total, and audience mix can shape the second weekend.
