TheWrap projects the Alejandro G. Iñárritu film will lose $250 million, which would be the biggest loss of Cruise's career.
Digger, the Alejandro G. Iñárritu satire starring Tom Cruise, took in $8 million in North America over an opening weekend that began Friday, Oct. 2, and $21 million globally. A projection reported by TheWrap says it will lose $250 million by the end of its theatrical run, which would make it the biggest loss of Cruise's career. According to The Atlantic, it is also the final Warner Bros. release before the studio's acquisition, which closed this week.
The film cost an estimated $173 million to make, and about $100 million went on marketing and Cruise's global press tour. Its ticket sales are projected at $40 million worldwide, with theater exhibitors keeping half of that. Deadline has put the loss at no less than $150 million, a figure based on a $160 million production budget that leaves out marketing.
Digger skipped a traditional festival premiere and had its world premiere in London on Sept. 22. Cruise, 64, plays Digger Rockwell, an oil magnate whose drilling may have unleashed a climate catastrophe. Afterward he makes an effort to rescue mankind, assisted by the American president, who is portrayed by John Goodman.
The story is a play within a play. Cruise also plays Curtis Markson, the star of a stage show called Fossil Fools, and the film reveals the apocalypse tale to be that play. The Atlantic describes the film as a satire of a satire.
Reviews have split critics. The San Francisco Chronicle reports a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 296 reviews, and its film critic emeritus, Mick LaSalle, gave the film his highest rating.
Iñárritu has said the film is not perfect, and he described his personal taste as films that try to tell him something in a different way.
Anne Hathaway gave the film 5 out of 5 stars in her first Letterboxd review. "I loved this brilliant movie," the Oscar-winning actress wrote. Guillermo del Toro called the film a masterpiece and suggested that ticket buyers back it over his own 2006 classic Pan's Labyrinth, which has been restored and opens in theaters on Friday, Oct. 9.
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