Tom Cruise is refusing to let the opening-weekend numbers define his latest movie Digger, insisting that his goal has always been to make films that can live beyond their theatrical debut.
The comments came as Digger, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, opened to approximately $8 million in the U.S. and Canada and $20 million worldwide. The result represents one of Cruise’s weakest theatrical openings in years.
Tom Cruise Says Movies Should “Last”
Speaking about his approach to filmmaking, Cruise explained that he does not make movies while obsessing over their opening weekend performance.
The actor pointed to films from earlier in his career, including Rain Man and Born on the Fourth of July, as examples of movies that remained in theaters for extended periods. He said his hope with Digger is to create something that can “last” and continue to evolve with audiences rather than being judged entirely by its first few days in theaters.
That philosophy is particularly relevant now, as Digger has struggled to attract a large opening-weekend audience despite Cruise’s star power and Iñárritu’s reputation as an acclaimed filmmaker.
‘Digger’ Faces a Difficult Box-Office Start
Digger follows Cruise as wealthy oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, whose actions contribute to an environmental catastrophe. The film reportedly carried a production budget of at least $125 million, making its $8 million domestic opening a significant disappointment for the studio.
Despite the commercial setback, Cruise has continued to express pride in the movie. He recently thanked the cast and crew for their work and described the experience of making the film as unforgettable.
The movie has also received a divided response from critics and audiences, with Rotten Tomatoes currently showing a 51% critics score and a 71% audience score. Director Iñárritu has acknowledged the mixed reaction while defending the film’s unconventional approach.
For Cruise, however, the bigger question may not be how much Digger earns in its first weekend, but whether audiences continue discovering and discussing the film long after its theatrical opening.
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