‘Digger’ arrived in cinemas on October 2, 2026. It is not a typical Tom Cruise film. There are no stunts, no chase scenes and no ticking clock to defuse. Instead, it is a dark satire about a powerful man and a disaster he caused. Early reviews are split. Some critics call it a bold swing. Others call it a misfire.
So is it worth your ticket? This article lays out the facts so you can decide.
What Digger is about
Tom Cruise plays Digger Rockwell. He is a wealthy Texas oil tycoon. His actions set off an environmental catastrophe.
The official logline calls him the most powerful man in the world. He rushes to prove he is humanity’s savior before his own disaster destroys everything. The marketing tagline calls the film a comedy of catastrophic proportions.
The tone is satire. Reviewers have compared it to Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove. Others have linked it to the dry, pale, deadpan style of the Swedish director Roy Andersson. Some said the early scenes play like fast farce. Later scenes turn stranger and more surreal.
Who made it?
Alejandro González Iñárritu directed the film. He won Oscars for Birdman and The Revenant. Digger is his first English-language film since The Revenant.
He co-wrote the script with Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone and Sabina Berman. The story came from Iñárritu and Berman, with Jez Butterworth also credited. Dinelaris and Giacobone worked with him on Birdman.
Iñárritu first had the idea after finishing The Revenant in 2015. He began talking with Cruise about it in 2019. At that time, Cruise was filming Top Gun: Maverick. Cruise had admired Iñárritu’s debut, Amores perros, since it first came out.
Iñárritu made another film first. That was Bardo in 2022. He then returned to Digger. The project was announced in February 2024, when Cruise was officially cast.
Cruise and Iñárritu are both producers. So are Mary Parent and Michael Sharp.
The cast
The ensemble is large. Cruise leads. He is joined by Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.
Robert John Burke, Emma D’Arcy, Burn Gorman and Sophie Wilde also appear. Hüller plays Emma, Digger’s business partner and half-sister. Plemons plays Kenny, Digger’s nephew.
Several critics said Hüller and Plemons are underused. They said the satire buries both actors. One critic still praised the quiet intensity Plemons brings to his role.
How the film was made
The production shot in the United Kingdom for six months. The film was shot entirely in VistaVision. That is a large-format film process.
Warner Bros. is releasing it in standard cinemas and in IMAX. Premium formats are a major part of the rollout. These include 4D E-Motion and Magnify 8 immersive seating.
Digger is also Cruise’s first film since he signed a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. That deal covers developing and producing theatrical films. It was announced in January 2025.
What the critics say
The reviews are truly divided. Scores on Rotten Tomatoes have shifted since the embargo lifted. Reports have placed the critic score anywhere from 41% to 53%. One site counted 99 reviews at the 53% mark.
Whatever the exact number, it is Cruise’s lowest critic score in nearly a decade. The last time one of his films went “Rotten” was The Mummy in 2017.
Early social media reactions were also mixed. One critic called the film brave and gorgeous. That critic still said mainstream audiences would not embrace it. Another critic said he could not call it very good. He did say a late reveal almost justifies the chaos.
Guillermo del Toro publicly defended the film. He also criticised a headline about it as petty.
What critics praise
The strongest praise goes to Cruise. Several reviewers said he gives a committed, skilled performance. One called it one of his better turns as an arrogant character. That critic placed it alongside his work in Tropic Thunder and Magnolia.
Another reviewer said Cruise shows he can deliver a first-rate performance without action and stunts. A third said the film lets him add real nuance, which they had not seen from him in a while.
Some critics also praised the film’s ambition. One called it bloated and tonally scattered. The same critic still admired how hard it dares the audience to keep up.
The film’s look gets credit too. One early reaction said it would play best with the Academy, especially in craft categories and acting.
Several reviewers said the film works better once its structure becomes clear. One critic said the early part tested his patience. After a key reveal, he recognized what he called the brilliance of the project. He also predicted that the film will divide audiences.
What critics criticise
Reviewers said the film feels arrogant, like its main character. One accused Iñárritu of assuming his film is always smarter than the audience.
A review in described the film as smug and self-aware. It compared it to a bad sketch comedy. That reviewer said Digger gets off lightly in the end. That critic felt the ending arrives just as the story turns more cathartic.
Audience reviews are mixed too. Some viewers called Cruise incredible. One said his performance was excellent but found the film confusing.
The Tom Cruise factor
Cruise has spent decades in action films. Reports say Digger is his first non-action lead role in more than ten years. His recent work includes Mission: Impossible, The Final Reckoning and Top Gun: Maverick.
Here, he plays a loud, vain and desperate man. Critics noted long, showy takes that let him perform at full volume. Some enjoyed this. Others felt the takes only prove he can do them.
One review made a pointed comparison. It said Cruise has not acted this big in years. It linked his energy to his cameo as a studio boss in Tropic Thunder.
If you like Cruise, this is a rare chance to see him in a different mode. If you only like him for action, this film will not give you that.
Box office and budget
The film’s money story is rough. Reports on the budget vary. It was reportedly greenlit at $125 million. Some outlets later put the final cost between $160 million and $180 million. Others cite $120 million or $130 million. No single figure is confirmed.
Opening weekend forecasts also varied. Box Office Pro projected $20 million to $30 million in the United States. Other trackers predicted lower numbers, some under $10 million. I could not find confirmed final opening numbers.
In the United Kingdom, the film has reportedly earned £16.5 million so far. Its opening, including previews, was £6 million.
One analyst said the film would need about $312 million worldwide to hit a common success mark. That mark is 2.5 times its budget. Several outlets say it is unlikely to get there.
This matters little for your enjoyment. A flop at the box office does not make a film bad. It does show that mainstream audiences may stay away.
Who should watch it
Watch Digger if you enjoy dark satire. Watch it if you like Iñárritu’s earlier work. His mix of comedy and chaos in Birdman is a fair guide to what he attempts here.
Watch it if you want to see Cruise take a risk. Even harsh reviews usually admit he commits fully.
Watch it on the biggest screen you can find. The film was shot in VistaVision and is playing in IMAX. Critics who liked the look did so partly for its scale.
Watch it with patience. Several reviewers said the first act is the hardest. They said the later sections reward you more. Not every critic agreed, but this was a common view.
Skip it if you want a Tom Cruise action film. There is none here.
Skip it if you dislike tonal shifts. Critics said the film swings between farce and surrealism. Some said it never settles.
- digger
- Tom Cruise
