Tom Cruise’s latest movie, “Digger,” has faced challenges at the box office, experiencing a disappointing opening weekend and a significant drop in attendance during its second week, according to Variety. The film debuted with $8 million in the U.S. and Canada, totaling $20 million globally, but then saw a decline of about 60% in its second weekend. As of now, it has earned $14.4 million in the domestic market and $35.3 million worldwide.
Deadline reports that “Digger” may end up losing about $245 million, with projections suggesting it could reach only around $50 million globally. Warner Bros. estimates that the movie needs to earn approximately $300 million to break even, while some sources indicate the figure could be as high as $350 million. The film’s budget exceeded the originally approved amount of $125 million, rising to between $160 and $180 million due to delays in production. Additionally, the studio spent an extra $100 million on marketing efforts.
Despite the challenges, Warner Bros. has been promoting the movie on social media to encourage audiences to watch it and form their own opinions. Several prominent actors, including Anne Hathaway and Jane Fonda, have also supported the film’s promotion.
Variety mentioned that Tom Cruise receives payments from the film’s revenue before the studio recoups its expenses. It was noted that an awards campaign for a film like “Digger” might typically cost around $15 million, but that amount may be reduced. This film is the last standalone release from Warner Bros. before its merger with Paramount, after a difficult year for the studio. There is hope that “Dune: Part III,” scheduled for release in December, could improve the studio’s fortunes.
Although “Digger” is struggling now, Deadline points out that it is not alone. Many films that initially performed poorly eventually found their audiences. For instance, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” which flopped upon its 1975 release, later earned over $120 million despite a budget of only $1.2 million. Other films like “The Big Lebowski” and “Fight Club” also overcame their early box office disappointments.
While some movies manage to achieve success after a rough start, many others do not recover at all. It remains uncertain whether “Digger” will change its fate, as box office numbers do not always predict a film’s future success. What do you think the future holds for “Digger”?
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Source: Amo Media