HOLLYWOOD: Tom Cruise’s latest film, Digger, could suffer losses of up to $245 million during its theatrical run, according to reports, putting Warner Bros. under pressure after a disappointing box-office performance.
According to Variety, the environmental satire directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu could become one of the biggest box-office failures of the year.
The 2012 film John Carter, starring Taylor Kitsch, remains a notable comparison. Disney reportedly spent an estimated $255 million to $280 million on that production, which is often cited among the studio’s biggest theatrical disappointments.
‘Digger’ Suffers Sharp Box-Office Decline
Warner Bros., which distributed Digger, reportedly faces losses of between $150 million and $200 million following the film’s opening weekend, when it earned just $20 million worldwide.
The film’s performance weakened further in its second weekend. Ticket sales fell by 60 per cent, bringing its worldwide box-office total to $35.3 million.
Additional reports suggest that the studio is preparing for a larger financial write-down. The film is now projected to finish its theatrical run with around $50 million in global ticket sales.
Hollywood Stars Back the Film
Several prominent Hollywood figures, including Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Guillermo del Toro and Mandy Patinkin, have supported the film and encouraged audiences to watch it in cinemas.
Hathaway praised the project for its distinctive style, describing it as smart, trippy, aggressive, funny and ambitious. She gave it a 10/10 rating on Letterboxd and urged viewers to form their own opinions.
However, the endorsements have not translated into a significant improvement in ticket sales.
Variety reported that the film needs to generate $350 million to break even. A Warner Bros. representative disputed that estimate, putting the break-even figure at $300 million.
Oscar Campaign Plans May Be Cut
In Digger, Cruise plays a wealthy oil billionaire in an unconventional dark comedy that explores environmental themes.
The film’s weak box-office performance could also affect its awards strategy. Reports suggest that a planned additional Oscar campaign budget of $15 million may be cut.
For Warner Bros., the film’s commercial performance highlights the financial risks associated with expensive productions, particularly when audience demand falls short of expectations.
With worldwide ticket sales projected to reach only around $50 million, Digger faces a substantial gap between its expected earnings and the reported amount needed to recover its costs.
