The Digger disaster
It’s giving major flop era for Tom Cruise. Despite a massive press tour that hit everything from a GQ cover to a chaotic vibe-check on the "Jennifer Hudson Show," the Warner Bros. flick Digger is officially tanking. The R-rated black comedy, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, only brought in $3.4 million on Friday.
With a production budget that ballooned from $125 million up to $180 million, this one is looking like a massive L for the studio. Cruise stars as an oil tycoon dealing with an environmental disaster, but audiences aren't biting. It’s expected to pull in about $7.5 million for the whole weekend, which is a total yikes.
The winners circle
While Digger is struggling to stay afloat, Verity is main character energy incarnate. The Amazon MGM psycho-thriller—based on the Colleen Hoover bestseller—grabbed the No. 1 spot on Friday with $15.1 million. Starring Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett, and Dakota Johnson, the film is on track for a $33.6 million opening weekend. Say less, we love to see it.
Elsewhere on the charts:
- Resident Evil: Zach Cregger’s zombie flick grabbed second place with $3.62 million, looking at a $12 million weekend.
- The Heart of the Beast: The Brad Pitt-led survival drama came in just behind the zombies, pulling $3.15 million.
- Primetime: A24’s Robert Pattinson drama rounded out the top five with $2.49 million. Even though the movie is getting positive buzz, the real-life Chris Hansen is not a fan, calling it "so bizarre" and "detached from reality."
Why it matters
This box office shake-up highlights the absolute unpredictability of Hollywood right now. Even with absolute icons like Tom Cruise pushing a project to the moon, audiences are proving they can't be bought, while adaptations of viral books like Verity continue to dominate the cultural conversation.
