Warner Bros.’ “Digger” Opens to $8 Million as Studio Nears Paramount Merger
In short
“Digger,” Warner Bros.’ Tom Cruise-starring satire directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, opened to an estimated $8 million in North American theaters, among the weakest debuts of Cruise’s career. International sales added $12 million from 74 markets, and the film cost at least $125 million to make, the Associated Press reported. Amazon MGM’s “Verity” took the No. 1 spot with $32.6 million.
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Warner Bros.’ “Digger,” the studio’s last release before its merger with Paramount, flopped in its opening weekend, grossing an estimated $8 million in North American theaters, according to The New York Times and the Associated Press. The Associated Press described it as one of the worst debuts of Tom Cruise’s career. [ 1 , 2 ]
The Alejandro G. Iñárritu-directed satire, in which Cruise plays a gray-haired billionaire, also drew $12 million internationally from 74 markets, the Associated Press reported. No. 1 in North America went instead to Amazon MGM’s “Verity,” directed by Michael Showalter and starring Dakota Johnson, which debuted with $32.6 million, the agency said. [ 1 , 2 ]
The Associated Press reported that the film cost at least $125 million to make, with reports pegging the production budget closer to $150 million. The New York Times reported that the opening weekend could put the movie on track to lose at least $125 million. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to the Associated Press, reviews were so bad that Warner Bros. opted to run “decide for yourself” ads, and estimates for “Digger” had been revised down over the past week. [ 2 ]
The film had its world premiere in London on Sept. 22, 2026, the Associated Press reported, and the New York Times said Iñárritu and Cruise were in Mexico late last month promoting it. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The flop lands in the final days of Warner Bros. as a standalone studio, just before its merger with Paramount, so a costly miss carries extra weight for the incoming company. With a production budget reported at up to $150 million and a weak overseas start, the film is one of the year’s biggest box-office gambles and is unlikely to recoup its cost theatrically.
Key facts
- “Digger” grossed an estimated $8 million in its opening weekend in North America. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The film cost at least $125 million to make, and reports have pegged the production budget closer to $150 million, the Associated Press reported. [ 2 ]
- The New York Times reported the opening could put the movie on track to lose at least $125 million. [ 1 ]
- International sales totaled $12 million from 74 markets, according to the Associated Press. [ 2 ]
- Amazon MGM’s “Verity” debuted at No. 1 in North America with $32.6 million, the Associated Press reported. [ 2 ]
- Tom Cruise stars in the film and Alejandro G. Iñárritu directed it. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The film is Warner Bros.’ last release before its merger with Paramount. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The film had its world premiere in London on Sept. 22, 2026, according to the Associated Press. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- “Digger” opened to an estimated $8 million domestically in its opening weekend. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Tom Cruise stars in “Digger” and Alejandro G. Iñárritu directed it. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The release comes as Warner Bros. moves toward a merger with Paramount. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The film’s opening was weak by the standards of a major studio release starring Cruise. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The final loss from “Digger.” The New York Times said the opening could put the film on track to lose at least $125 million, while the Associated Press gave production cost figures of at least $125 million and closer to $150 million; neither outlet states a final figure.
- The full marketing spend. The Associated Press text available reads that marketing spend was estimated at another $100… and is cut off, so the complete figure cannot be confirmed.
- Whether the London premiere and the Mexico promotional trip are part of the same publicity push. The Associated Press dates the London premiere to Sept. 22, while the New York Times says Cruise and Iñárritu were in Mexico late last month promoting the film; no document links the two appearances.
- How “Digger” will perform in coming weeks. Only opening-weekend figures are reported; the Associated Press says estimates had been revised down over the past week, but no later data is given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The New York Times reports that “Digger” grossed an estimated $8 million in its opening weekend and could lose at least $125 million. [ 1 ]
- The Associated Press reports the film’s $8 million domestic debut, $12 million from 74 international markets, and Warner Bros.’ “decide for yourself” advertising after poor reviews. [ 2 ]