Tom Cruise's latest film, Digger, is projected to become one of the biggest flops in film history, with losses forecast at $245m (£185m) following a poor box office performance. The black comedy, released in early October, saw ticket sales plummet by around 60% in its second week, bringing global takings to just $35m (£26m).
Projected Losses and Break-Even Figures
According to Variety, Hollywood analysts estimate that the film, which cost Warner Bros an estimated $280m (£211m) to produce and market, could lose $245m (£185m) if the current trend continues. The film is projected to finish its cinematic run with around $50m (£38m) in global box office receipts.
A spokesperson for Warner Bros told the outlet that the break-even point is $300m, though analysts had earlier suggested the film would need to earn about $350m worldwide, as cinema owners retain roughly half of ticket sales.
Comparison to Historic Box Office Bombs
If the projected losses materialise, Digger would join the ranks of notable box office bombs such as the 2012 sci-fi film John Carter, which suffered an inflation-adjusted loss of $149–$265m. Other examples include The Lone Ranger, starring Johnny Depp, and Disney's The Marvels, which upon its 2023 release was widely considered the biggest box office bomb of all time with an estimated loss of nearly $240m.
The film stars Cruise opposite Riz Ahmed, Sandra Huller, and Jesse Plemons. Its poor performance contrasts sharply with Cruise's recent successes, including the latest Top Gun instalment, which grossed over $1bn worldwide.
Cruise's Enthusiasm for the Role
During the film's promotion, Cruise spoke highly of Digger, describing it as completely different from any other role he had read in his long career. On The Graham Norton Show, he said: "My character is outrageous and unpredictable. He says things that others may be thinking and never say."
He added: "It's a timeless story about power, greed, and ego framed in a very timely manner by Alejandro G Inarritu – one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. I've never read a script like it, and I have never seen a character like Digger." Cruise also shared his childhood dream of having an "adventurous life", explaining: "I am always doing something, learning something new which I can add to characters. I want to push every artform. I love the challenge of doing one thing while working on another. To create is life."
