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Warner Bros. Says “Digger” Needs $300M to Break Even

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 10:05 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Tom Cruise's Digger Opens

Tom Cruise’s film Digger opened with $8 million domestic box-office revenue.
The movie earned $12 million in 74 international markets, totaling $20 million worldwide.
Warner Bros. says the $125-$180 million-budget film must gross $300 million worldwide to break even.
Analysts note the $8 million opening is Cruise’s softest since 2007’s Lions for Lambs.
Critics gave Digger a 51 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and audiences a C+ CinemaScore.

Summary

Judge Approves Board

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín approved a settlement creating a five-member News Editorial Independence Board.
The settlement requires Paramount to add $1.5 billion U.S. film production and release 30 movies annually.
It funds $47.5 million for worker training and imposes $30 million penalties per missed film.
Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz became co-CEO of the combined Skydance entity with David Ellison.
Warner Bros. chiefs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy are slated to exit, saving millions.

History

Historical Context

The 2008 U.S. financial crisis, which spurred the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program in October 2008, forced Hollywood studios to cut production spending. Warner Bros. reduced its slate in 2009 and Paramount’s share slipped, prompting today’s emphasis on guaranteed blockbusters such as Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger,’ as studios chase high-return franchises global.

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Tom Cruise's Digger Opens

Tom Cruise’s film Digger opened with $8 million domestic box-office revenue.
The movie earned $12 million in 74 international markets, totaling $20 million worldwide.
Warner Bros. says the $125-$180 million-budget film must gross $300 million worldwide to break even.
Analysts note the $8 million opening is Cruise’s softest since 2007’s Lions for Lambs.
Critics gave Digger a 51 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and audiences a C+ CinemaScore.

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