Tom Cruise Proud of 'Digger' Despite Disappointing Box Office Opening - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Actor Tom Cruise continues to express pride in his latest film, "Digger," despite a disappointing box office opening.
“'Digger' is officially in theaters, and I am deeply honored to have had the opportunity to make this film alongside such incredibly talented artists. Thank you to the entire cast and crew for your dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm. This experience has been truly unforgettable, and I am immensely proud of the work we’ve created,” Cruise wrote on his personal Instagram account on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, as cited by Antara, "Digger" tells the story of an egotistical oil tycoon who triggers a natural disaster. For the role, Cruise sports a look featuring a bald head and a heavier physique.
Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film is projected to earn only around $8 million during its opening weekend—a rocky start for such an ambitious project, especially considering its production budget of $125 million.
Warner Bros. released "Digger" on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in 3,300 North American theaters. The studio viewed the project as a major creative undertaking with potential for awards recognition.
Unfortunately, the road ahead looks challenging; "Digger" received a "C+" CinemaScore from audiences and holds a 51% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Regarding his new look in the film, Cruise sought a departure from the action franchises audiences have come to expect from him, aiming instead to revisit the director-driven projects that defined the early stages of his career—films such as Rain Man, Born on the Fourth of July, and Magnolia. The star won't wait long to return to an IP-based action movie, as production on "Days of Thunder 2" is set to begin soon.
Meanwhile, the Amazon MGM Studios thriller "Verity"—starring Anne Hathaway and adapted from the novel by Colleen Hoover—is projected to top the domestic box office with earnings of approximately $33 million (around Rp590.3 billion).
If these projections hold, "Digger" could mark Tom Cruise's lowest opening weekend since the 2007 war drama Lions for Lambs, which debuted with $6.7 million (around Rp119.8 billion) on a much smaller budget.
During an onstage conversation following the Los Angeles premiere of "Digger" earlier this week, Cruise discussed his pursuit of career-long success, reflecting on his start in the film industry at a young age.
"My hope has always been that the films would be successful enough to give me the chance to do it again," Cruise said regarding filmmaking.
"People want to see things that are real. In this career, you have to work hard to achieve that. It’s never just handed to us. I want you to know that," he added.
