Digger Inc. set to report $245 million loss amid box-office slump
Tom Cruise’s Digger Faces $245 Million Loss, Joining Hollywood’s Most Disastrous Films as Warner Bros. Braces for Skydance Takeover
Source: Guardian Film · October 13, 2026 at 3:01 AM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —
Tom Cruise’s Digger Faces $245 Million Loss, Joining Hollywood’s Most Disastrous Films as Warner Bros. Braces for Skydance Takeover
Market Impact
Warner Bros.’ Digger, the high-profile eco-satire starring Tom Cruise and directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, is on track to suffer a $245 million loss—one of the biggest financial flops in cinema history—after a catastrophic box office collapse that has left the studio scrambling ahead of its impending sale to David Ellison’s Skydance Media.
The film’s dismal performance underscores Warner Bros.’ struggles in 2026, a year marked by underperforming releases and leadership changes as it prepares to transition under new ownership. With Digger projected to gross just $50 million worldwide, it falls far short of the $300 million break-even point Warner Bros. has cited, according to internal estimates.
Industry reports suggest production costs ballooned to $160–180 million—well above its original $125 million budget—while marketing expenses reached $100 million, with an additional $15 million earmarked for awards-season promotion now likely slashed.
A Box Office Disaster in the Making Digger’s North American opening weekend of $8 million has plummeted by 60% in its second weekend, bringing in just $3.2 million, pushing its domestic total to $14.4 million and global gross to $35.3 million.
Even if the film reaches its projected $50 million worldwide, it would still face a $245 million shortfall, rivaling legendary box office turkeys like Cutthroat Island ($222 million loss, adjusted for inflation), Mortal Engines ($224 million), and The Marvels ($205–250 million).
The film’s reception has been deeply polarizing, with critics divided over its merits. The Guardian’s chief film critic, Peter Bradshaw, dismissed it as "an exasperatingly shallow, laborious, self-congratulatory satire" in a two-star review, while Guardian Australia’s Sian Cain hailed it as "a masterpiece." Warner Bros. attempted to leverage the controversy with a post-release ad campaign quoting negative reviews, but the strategy failed to revive interest.
Warner Bros. Struggles as Skydance Takeover Nears The flop comes at a critical juncture for Warner Bros., which has seen a string of disappointments in 2026, including Supergirl and The Bride!, as co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy prepare to depart ahead of Skydance’s acquisition.
The studio’s performance contrasts sharply with its record-breaking 2025, when hits like A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, and F1 helped it rank as the second-most successful studio globally, trailing only Disney.
Elsewhere in Hollywood, Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning—a sequel to The Social Network—also underperformed, earning just $5.5 million in North America and $9 million worldwide in its opening weekend. The film, starring Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg and Mikey Madison as whistleblower Frances Haugen, was outpaced by Jessica Chastain’s The Other Mommy, which led the U.S. box office with $27.5 million and $45.2 million globally.
Market and Industry Impact For Warner Bros., Digger’s failure adds to mounting pressure as it navigates its transition under Skydance, raising questions about the studio’s ability to deliver blockbusters amid shifting market dynamics. The loss also highlights the risks of high-budget, high-profile films in an era where audience tastes remain unpredictable.
With no signs of a turnaround, Digger’s final box office total is expected to remain well below expectations, cementing its place among Hollywood’s most costly misfires. The film’s producers, including Cruise and Iñárritu, have not commented publicly on its performance, but Warner Bros. has yet to announce any major adjustments to its slate ahead of the Skydance takeover.