Tom Cruise's original film 'Digger' forecast to open well below break-even expectations
Industry analysts project that the October 2 release of Tom Cruise's non-franchise film 'Digger' will earn between $12 million and $15 million in its opening weekend, far short of the roughly $40 million needed to recoup its $180 million budget.
Tom Cruise is set to star in the dark comedy "Digger," directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, with a theatrical debut scheduled for Oct. 2, 2026. The film follows Cruise as oil magnate Digger Rockwell, whose drilling activities trigger an ecological catastrophe. The cast includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sanda Hüller and Michael Stuhlbarg.
Variety's early box-office forecast estimates an opening weekend gross of $12 million to $15 million in North America, down from earlier projections of $18 million to $20 million. The movie’s production budget has risen to about $180 million, and analysts say a $40 million opening would be required to begin covering costs, with a global break-even point near $350 million.
"The early predictions suggest a challenging start for the film," a Variety analyst said.
Cruise, who has promoted the project extensively, noted that a slower release schedule could help the film gain traction after its debut.