Tom Cruise’s 'Digger' flopping out at box office

Tom Cruise has built his career on turning impossible missions into blockbuster successes, but his latest film could put his box-office pull under fresh scrutiny.

'Digger', directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, is tracking towards a disappointing opening of $12 million to $15 million in North America, well below early projections of $18 million to $20 million. The $125 million production reportedly grew to between $160 million and $180 million, while Warner Bros. disputes those figures.

The film marks Cruise's first original movie since 2017's 'American Made', which followed the disastrous 'The Mummy' that same year. While 'Top Gun: Maverick' became a huge success in 2022, Cruise's more recent 'Mission: Impossible' films have struggled to match the franchise's earlier box-office heights.

That makes 'Digger' another major gamble for the actor, particularly as it arrives during a difficult year for Warner Bros. The studio has suffered several costly disappointments, including 'The Bride!' and 'Supergirl', increasing pressure on the new release.

Cruise has also stepped up promotion for the film, making rare media appearances as he attempts to draw audiences towards the R-rated comedy.

With a high production cost and a reported theatrical break-even point of around $300 million to $350 million worldwide, 'Digger' faces a steep climb to avoid becoming another costly flop.