Tom Cruise’s new film *Digger*, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, is facing slashed box office projections as its opening weekend nears. Initially, industry forecasters from Box Office Pro expected the apocalyptic satire to debut with $20 million to $30 million domestically. Those estimates were first trimmed to a range of $18 million to $20 million, but Warner Bros. now predicts a much lower opening between $12 million and $15 million. Box Office Theory projects an even gloomier figure, suggesting *Digger* may open with as little as $7.5 million to $12.5 million. The movie, which will premiere in around 3,500 theaters across North America, is a high-profile awards season contender but is struggling to attract strong national interest.

The movie’s steep production costs may complicate its profitability. Initially greenlit with a $125 million budget, sources indicate that spending increased to between $160 million and $180 million after delays and extended filming. Marketing costs reportedly added another $100 million, with a Warner Bros. spokesperson setting the global break-even threshold at $300 million, though industry estimates from Variety suggest a higher mark near $350 million. With theater owners typically taking half of ticket revenues, the financial stakes for *Digger* are considerable, especially given its mixed critical reception.

Critics have been lukewarm on the film, reflected in a 51% "rotten" score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 134 reviews. The R-rated satire stars a robust supporting cast including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, and Sandra Hüller alongside Cruise. The film explores the consequences of an environmental disaster caused by Cruise’s character, an oil tycoon, but the narrative and execution have not fully connected with critics or audiences thus far, contributing to the diminished box office expectations.

In contrast, *Digger*’s weekend competition looks far stronger with the psychological thriller *Verity*, starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. *Verity* is projected to debut at number one domestically with estimates ranging from $24 million to $40 million depending on the tracker, and it opens in roughly 3,000 theaters. Although Hathaway’s film has a smaller $40 million production budget and received an even lower Rotten Tomatoes score of 47%, its psychological thriller genre and star power have generated more excitement among potential moviegoers. This sets up a challenging weekend for *Digger* at the box office.