Tom Cruise is standing firmly behind Digger after the film drew harsh reviews and made a lackluster start at the box office.
The 64-year-old star said he was “so proud of what we created” one day after Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s satirical black comedy opened softly on Friday, October 2.
Despite the early criticism, Cruise used Instagram to praise the cast and crew behind the ambitious project.
“I am so honored to have had the opportunity to create this film alongside such talented artists,” he wrote alongside a series of behind-the-scenes images.
“Thank you to the entire cast and crew for your dedication, hard work, and joy. The experience was truly unforgettable and I’m so proud of what we created.”
Earlier that day, Deadline reported that Digger had collected $8 million on its opening day.
Tom Cruise, 64, insisted he is “proud” of Digger despite the film being panned by critics and getting off to a disappointing start at the box office; Seen September 28 at the LA premiere
The actor said he is “so proud of what we created” one day after the satirical black comedy opened softly on Friday, October 2
By comparison, Verity, the Anne Hathaway-led adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, debuted with $33 million over the weekend.
The result could become Cruise’s weakest opening in almost 20 years. His last major box-office disappointment came with 2007’s Lions for Lambs.
World of Reel projected that Digger could finish its opening weekend with less than $10 million.
A more optimistic forecast from Box Office Theory placed the film’s potential opening between $16 million and $26 million.
Directed by Iñárritu, who previously guided Leonardo DiCaprio to his first Oscar win with the adventure drama The Revenant, Digger reportedly carried a production budget of more than $125 million.
In the dark comedy, Cruise undergoes a dramatic transformation, using prosthetics and a wig to play Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon.
The story centers on Rockwell’s desperate attempt to repair a catastrophic ecological disaster that he caused himself.
John Goodman portrays the United States’ authoritarian president in the politically charged satire, which explores climate concerns and corporate greed.
The same day Cruise shared his message, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro also came to the film’s defense. Critics have already labeled Digger the worst movie of Iñárritu’s decades-long career.
Digger received a C+ CinemaScore and currently holds a “rotten” 51 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it Cruise’s lowest-reviewed film since 2017’s The Mummy.
The film reportedly cost more than $125 million to produce but earned just $8 million on its Friday opening day
Cruise is almost unrecognizable beneath prosthetics and a wig as wealthy oil tycoon Digger Rockwell in the dark comedy; pictured from left to right: Ross Hatt and Tom Cruise
The film follows him as he races to fix a catastrophic ecological disaster that he himself unleashed
Del Toro, whose 2017 movie The Shape of Water won the Oscars for best picture and best director, lashed out at a critical appraisal of Digger on X.
He responded to IGN headline that read: ‘The theater experience won’t change your mind on Digger, and the laughs that are there still will be when it hits HBO Max.’
‘Entirely Petty headline,’ Del Toro sniffed. ‘Love it or not. And, yes, I do. The film delivers in scale, ambition and reach at a theatrical screen level. Daring, bold and Cinematically complex. Decidedly a Theatrical experience.’
He then began reposting comments from X users who also enjoyed the picture, advising his more than two million followers on the platform to either ‘tune in or drop out.’
In one particularly scathing review, the Boston Globe called Digger a ‘turgid, unfunny, and borderline unwatchable 128 minute mess.’
Den of Geek wrote, ‘[Digger] forgets the statement must still work as anything more than a self-flagellating valediction from a movie star.’
Some other outlets were more positive, including Collider, who praised Cruise’s ‘bizarre but brilliant performance.’
Daily Mail’s own Brian Viner also heaped gushing praise on Digger, scoring it four out of five stars.
