Digger, the dark climate satire pairing Tom Cruise with Oscar winner Alejandro González Iñárritu, opens in theaters today — and critics are split straight down the middle.
Digger — Key Facts
Film: Digger
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Cast: Tom Cruise, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Emma D'Arcy
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: October 2, 2026
Runtime: 128 minutes
Rating: R
What the critics say
Reviews for Digger are sharply divided. The film stands at 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 123 reviews (as of September 30). David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter delivered a withering verdict, calling Cruise's turn "a spectacularly obnoxious" performance and comparing the film to "colossal misfires" like Babylon and Amsterdam. Clayton Davis of Variety respected the ambition, praising "stellar work" from Cruise and John Goodman, though he wished the film had "leaned harder into the absurdity." Time Out awarded four stars, hailing it as a "superbly scurrilous black comedy," while TheWrap dismissed it as "powerless, self-adulating claptrap." ScreenCrush, meanwhile, called it Cruise's most creatively and overtly political role in almost 20 years.
The story
Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a Texas oil tycoon who causes an environmental disaster — and then sets out to prove that he alone can save humanity.
A rough road to the screen
The Cruise-Iñárritu partnership dates back to 2019: Cruise was filming Top Gun: Maverick when he learned that Iñárritu wanted to meet. Iñárritu has said the production fell apart three times amid COVID and the Hollywood labor strikes. Box office tracking puts the film at around $12 million for its opening weekend, according to reports.
Watch the trailer
Frequently asked questions
When does Digger release?
Digger releases on October 2, 2026, in theaters via Warner Bros.
Who is in the cast?
Tom Cruise leads the cast alongside John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, and Emma D'Arcy.
What is Digger about?
Cruise plays a Texas oil billionaire who triggers an environmental disaster and then tries to sell himself as humanity's savior.
Is Digger getting good reviews?
There is no consensus yet: the film holds 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it everything from "spectacularly obnoxious" to a "superbly scurrilous black comedy."
Catch Digger in theaters this weekend — and decide for yourself which side of the split you land on.
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