The Tom Cruise-led film “Digger” faced a disappointing debut at the box office over the weekend, grossing approximately $8 million domestically and finishing fifth in ticket sales across the United States and Canada. The Warner Bros. release, which had a production budget estimated between $125 million and $150 million, struggled amid mixed critical reception and a challenging marketing campaign. With its worldwide opening total around $20 million, industry analysts anticipate the movie will result in significant financial losses for the studio.
“Digger” is a climate change satire directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who began the project nearly a decade ago. Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, an oil magnate whose drilling operations spark an ecological crisis. The actor’s dramatic transformation involved extensive prosthetics, a departure from his usual roles. Despite this creative ambition, audiences gave the film a lukewarm reception, with marketing research showing a CinemaScore grade of C. The film also opened in over 3,000 theaters but failed to attract substantial viewers.
The underperformance marks another setback for Warner Bros., which has experienced a difficult year at the box office. None of its 2026 releases have surpassed the $100 million mark domestically, and prior films such as “Supergirl” and “The Bride” have also underwhelmed financially. This slump contrasts with the studio’s successes last year, which included hits like “Sinners,” “Weapons,” and the Oscar-winning “One Battle After Another.” Warner Bros.’ current domestic box office revenue represents only around 5.6% of the total market this year, down from a more robust figure in previous years.
The release of “Digger” coincides with the pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, a deal scheduled to close shortly after the film’s opening weekend. The merger is expected to lead to considerable restructuring and cost-cutting, including major layoffs and shifts in studio leadership. Several executives who oversaw Warner Bros.’ film division, such as Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca, have already departed. Observers suggest the new ownership may move away from producing large-scale, auteur-driven projects like “Digger,” as Paramount has not historically focused on this type of film.
In comparison, Amazon MGM Studios’ “Verity,” starring Anne Hathaway, topped the box office with an estimated $32.6 million domestically and $62.5 million globally. The psychological thriller, based on a Colleen Hoover novel, performed well despite mixed critical reviews. It is Hathaway’s third number-one movie this year and is poised to be profitable given its modest $40 million production budget. The film’s success highlights a broader trend favoring adaptations with built-in audiences, in contrast to the riskier, original projects that have struggled recently.
Other notable releases included Sony Pictures’ “Resident Evil,” which grossed about $12.5 million in its third weekend, Paramount’s “Heart of the Beast” with $11 million, and A24’s “Primetime” with $8 million. As the industry watches the changing landscape, Warner Bros.’ recent performance signals a period of uncertainty and potential realignment under new ownership.