Tom Cruise is keeping his head held high despite a rocky start for his latest project, Digger. While the film struggles to gain traction with audiences, the superstar has taken to social media to celebrate the craft behind the movie rather than dwelling on the opening weekend numbers. Sharing a series of behind-the-scenes glimpses on Instagram, Cruise expressed genuine pride in the collaboration, thanking his cast and crew for their dedication and the unforgettable experience of bringing the story to life.
Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Digger marks a significant departure from the high-octane action roles that have defined Cruise’s recent career. In a transformation that sees him playing an egotistical, balding oil tycoon, the actor returns to the gritty, character-driven roots of his earlier work in films like Magnolia and Rain Man. Despite the creative shift, the film is currently facing a challenging road ahead. Produced on a budget of USD 125 million, the movie is tracking for a modest USD 8 million opening across 3,300 North American theatres, potentially marking Cruise’s lowest opening weekend since 2007.
Critical reception has been lukewarm, with the film currently holding a 51 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a C+ CinemaScore. The narrative follows an oil tycoon whose reckless actions trigger a natural disaster, featuring a star-studded ensemble including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, and Sandra Hüller. While Digger battles for attention against box office leader Verity, fans can rest assured that Cruise isn’t hanging up his action boots for good; the actor is already gearing up to return to his signature genre with the upcoming production of Days of Thunder 2.