In brief
The latest Tom Cruise film, Digger, has floundered at the box office, falling 60 % in its second weekend and earning only $35 million worldwide against an $280 million budget and marketing spend. Analysts predict a loss of $245 million, making it one of Hollywood’s worst flops. Cruise has downplayed box‑office expectations, focusing instead on artistic longevity. Digger’s failure follows a trend of misfiring projects, while Cruise’s franchise hits like Top Gun and Mission: Impossible continue to perform well.
Tom Cruise's “Digger” Set to Lose $245m as Box Office Flop
Hollywood analysts predict that the $280 million film could plummet to a $245 million loss after a 60 % drop in ticket sales over its second weekend.
Despite carrying the star power of Tom Cruise as oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, the satirical black comedy has grossed only about $35 million worldwide, far behind the studio’s $280 million production and marketing spend.
Cruise himself said he “never thought of movies when I’m making them” and that his focus is on films that “hopefully will translate, last and evolve,” distancing him from the commercial failure.
If the projected loss is accurate, Digger would rank among the biggest film flops in Hollywood history, rivaling past disappointments such as the Independent’s coverage.
The movie’s underperformance stands in stark contrast to Cruise’s successful franchise work with Top Gun and Mission: Impossible. It is also notable that the film was directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, celebrated for Babel and The Revenant.
Variety estimated a $50 million worldwide take by the end of its run, but breaking even would require roughly $350 million when factoring in the theatre share and award‑season promotion costs; a Warner Bros spokesperson later reduced the figure to about $300 million.
In a broader context, Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Reckoning”, a sequel to “The Social Network,” also struggled at the box office, earning only $9 million worldwide compared to its predecessor’s $22 million opening.
