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Digger Projected to Lose $245 Million Worldwide

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 11:45 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Tom Cruise Film Flops

Tom Cruise’s film Digger is projected to lose about $245 million worldwide.
Ticket sales fell 60% in the second weekend, leaving $14.4 million domestic and $35.3 million global totals.
Warner Bros. estimates production and marketing costs at $280 million, needing $300 million to break even.
Cruise’s contract gives him a revenue-share before the studio recoups costs, extending the studio’s loss timeline.

Summary

Anne Hathaway Praises Digger

A-list stars publicly championed Digger on social media despite its box-office flop.
Tom Cruise thanked fans on Instagram during opening weekend.
Anne Hathaway gave Digger a five-star Letterboxd rating.
Guillermo del Toro defended the film on X.
Warner Bros. organized a special trailer launch where influencers could pose for photos with Cruise.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 Universal Pictures released Waterworld, a $175 million post-apocalyptic epic that became the era’s most costly flop, losing about $100 million at the box office while star Kevin Costner earned $30 million through a profit-participation deal. The disaster led studios to tighten green-lighting, cost controls, and star-share contracts, a practice that still shapes big-budget releases today.

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Tom Cruise Film Flops

Tom Cruise’s film Digger is projected to lose about $245 million worldwide.
Ticket sales fell 60% in the second weekend, leaving $14.4 million domestic and $35.3 million global totals.
Warner Bros. estimates production and marketing costs at $280 million, needing $300 million to break even.
Cruise’s contract gives him a revenue-share before the studio recoups costs, extending the studio’s loss timeline.

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