Digger Losing $245 Million for Warner Bros at Box Office
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- "Digger," an R-rated environmental satire starring Tom Cruise and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, is projected to lose $245 million in its theatrical run, marking it as one of the biggest box office flops ever.
- The film opened to $8 million domestically and $20 million globally but saw a 60% drop in its second weekend, with total earnings expected to reach only about $50 million worldwide against a break-even point of $300-$350 million.
- Warner Bros. invested $125 million initially, with the budget increasing to $160-$180 million due to production delays, plus an additional $100 million spent on global marketing, excluding potential Oscar campaign costs.
- Despite support from high-profile actors encouraging audiences to see the film, poor reviews led Warner Bros. to run cautious marketing emphasizing audience choice, reflecting the film's cold reception.
- The film’s profitability is further hindered by Tom Cruise’s revenue-sharing deal, which requires the studio to pay him a percentage of earnings before recouping costs, delaying any potential profit.
