Tom Cruise’s Digger is on course for a much bigger loss than first thought. According to TheWrap’s reporting, as relayed by IGN, the film could lose $250 million by the end of its run. Warner Bros. hasn’t commented on the claims.
TheWrap’s insiders at Skydance, which now oversees the studio, reportedly don’t expect the film to pass $40 million worldwide. Digger opened to $8 million in the US and a further $12 million internationally, a weak start for a star vehicle from back-to-back Best Director Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
Where the $250 million comes from
ScreenStat’s summary of the report lays out the sums. Insiders put the production budget at $173 million, though one source reportedly cites $163 million after an insurance settlement. Marketing added roughly $100 million, much of it tied to Cruise’s global press tour. Warner Bros. financed the film alone, so the shortfall falls almost entirely on the studio rather than being spread across co-financiers.
The figure is an insider projection, not a studio statement, and the budget numbers vary by source. Treat it as an estimate that could move.
A bet that didn’t land
Digger is a divisive climate-change satire, and critics split on it. IGN’s review says it has “the budget to let some very talented artists work at the top of their game” but is “far from a must-watch”. We covered how Warner Bros. tried to turn the mixed reviews into an ad, and IGN says that attempt doesn’t appear to have lifted box office interest.
The film also sits at an awkward moment for Warner Bros. The studio is being acquired by Paramount in a $110 billion deal, according to IGN, and ScreenStat reports that Skydance’s David Ellison has replaced film chiefs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca with Paramount’s Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein. Digger was part of the Abdy and De Luca strategy of funding auteur filmmakers, a slate that also produced hits such as Sinners and One Battle After Another, per ScreenStat.
Premium screens are already shifting. The Odyssey is returning to IMAX in screens Digger held a week earlier. Cruise’s next test is Days of Thunder 2, a sequel with Anne Hathaway due in June 2028.
Is Digger still in UAE cinemas?
Digger reached UAE cinemas in October, as we noted in our earlier look at the film. Check your cinema’s listings for current showtimes, as screens may change after a weak opening.
Has Warner Bros. confirmed the $250 million loss?
No. The figure comes from unnamed insiders cited by TheWrap, and Warner Bros. hasn’t commented.
