U.S. — Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, opens in U.S. theaters on October 2, 2026. Warner Bros. Distributes the film, which features Cruise as Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon.

The production budget for Digger was reported to be between $125 million and $180 million. Box office projections for the opening weekend range from $8 million to $15 million.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu first conceived the idea for Digger after completing The Revenant in 2015, and it took him 10 years to develop the film before officially beginning production. He confirmed in an interview that Digger would be a comedy after principal photography concluded in April 2025.

Tom Cruise wears prosthetics for his role in the film. His physical transformation involved a makeup process that was reduced from six hours to under one hour through extensive practice.

John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons appear in the cast of Digger. The story for Digger was by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Sabina Berman, and Jez Butterworth. The screenplay was written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Nicolás Giacobone. Riz Ahmed said this feels like a movie that’s kind of unique and kind of different and maybe it’s the kind of film people really haven’t seen before. It’s a really big swing.

Riz Ahmed originally had negotiations to join the cast of Digger, but he was later replaced by Fahadh Faasil due to per diem disagreements, which led to Ahmed joining the project instead. John Goodman underwent hip surgery in March 2025, causing a two-day halt in filming for Digger. The production budget for Digger increased from $125 million to $180 million due to delays and reshoots, according to reports.

The film Digger is shot entirely in VistaVision using Leitz Cine ELSIE lenses, marking a technical choice distinct from most contemporary films. Digger has a running time of 128 minutes. It is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for pervasive language.

Warner Bros. Released an advertisement for Digger featuring contrasting reviews such as "Masterpiece" and "Unpleasant". The social media review embargo for Digger lifted on September 22, 2026. Digger has a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of approximately 50 to 53 percent.

Tom Cruise attended the London premiere of Digger with Prince William and Kate Middleton. He co-produced the film Digger. Alejandro González Iñárritu's projects have garnered five Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.

Digger is not currently available for streaming on Netflix. Digger is expected to stream on HBO Max following its theatrical and digital release. HBO Max offers a subscription with ads for $10.99 per month.

HBO Max offers an ad-free subscription for $18.49 per month. A bundle including Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max without ads costs $32.99 per month.

Tom Cruise said he is all in on life and all in on movies, and that working with Alejandro is a unique opportunity.

He added that he has never read anything like the script and is trying to find those kinds of roles.

Why It Matters

The collaboration between Iñárritu and Cruise marks a development in contemporary cinema, bringing together a director known for psychological dramas with a major action star in a comedic role. The film's decade-long development period and substantial budget reflect the scale of ambition behind the project, while its mixed critical reception shows the risks associated with such unconventional creative partnerships.

The distribution strategy, including a theatrical release followed by streaming on HBO Max, aligns with current industry trends for major studio productions. The varying subscription options for HBO Max provide multiple pathways for audiences to access the film after its theatrical run, reflecting the evolving landscape of film consumption and distribution models in the modern entertainment industry.

Timeline

In 2016, Tom Cruise stated, "It’s something that has helped me incredibly in my life. I’ve been a Scientologist for over 30 years. It’s something that is, you know … without it, I wouldn’t be where I am. So, it’s a beautiful religion. I’m incredibly proud."

Digger opens in U.S. theaters on October 2, 2026.

What's New

Later reporting revealed that he said he is all in on life and all in on movies, and that working with Alejandro is a unique opportunity. Alejandro G. Iñárritu stated that he thinks this was a film made at the crossing line of real events and reality with a touch of imagination and a little pepper of humor. He attended the London premiere of Digger with Prince William and Kate Middleton. Additional details emerged regarding the production, including that he applied extensive makeup for his role in Digger, reducing the application time from six hours to under one hour through practice. Alejandro G. Iñárritu confirmed in an interview that Digger would be a comedy after principal photography concluded in April 2025. He stated in 2016, "It’s something that has helped me incredibly in my life. So, it’s a beautiful religion. I’m incredibly proud."