Brief
Warner Bros. eyes box‑office rescue with Tom Cruise’s risky comedy “Digger”
The studio hopes the star‑driven comedy can reverse a dismal fiscal run, despite modest opening projections and rising budget estimates.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Warner Bros. is counting on Tom Cruise’s upcoming comedy Digger, slated to open on Oct. 2, to improve a box‑office year marked by several underperformers, Variety reported.
The film, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, follows Cruise as an oil‑tycoon whose company triggers an ecological disaster. Early tracking suggests a North American opening between $12 million and $15 million, down from earlier $18‑$20 million estimates. The production budget, originally $125 million, is said to have risen to $160‑$180 million, though a Warner Bros. spokesperson disputes those figures.
Executives note that a $300‑$350 million global box‑office would be needed for the movie to break even, given a $100 million marketing spend and the fact that exhibitors keep roughly half of ticket revenue. The studio’s own spokesperson claims the break‑even point is $300 million, lower than the $350 million cited by industry sources.
Analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations praised Warner Bros. for taking a chance on Cruise but questioned whether audiences will accept him in a “transformative” role beyond his action‑hero brand.
“Digger” is Cruise’s first original film since 2017’s American Made and arrives as Paramount‑Skydance moves toward finalising its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Key facts
- Warner Bros. plans to release Tom Cruise’s comedy Digger on Oct. 2, 2026. (variety.com)
- Early forecasts put the North American opening at $12‑$15 million, down from $18‑$20 million. (variety.com)
- The film’s budget is reported to have risen from $125 million to $160‑$180 million, though the studio disputes this. (variety.com)
- Break‑even is estimated at $300‑$350 million globally, according to industry executives and a Warner Bros. spokesperson. (variety.com)
- Analyst Jeff Bock said the film is a risky but notable gamble for Warner Bros. (variety.com)
Where accounts differ
- Break‑even point for Digger: roughly $350 million globally, according to executives with knowledge of similar films (variety.com); the film’s break‑even point is $300 million, according to a Warner Bros. spokesperson (variety.com)
- Production budget amount: budget climbed to $160‑$180 million after overruns (variety.com); a Warner Bros. spokesperson disputes those figures (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Will Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Continue Warner Bros. ’ Dismal Box Office Year?”
