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Digger: What We Know About Iñárritu's New Black Comedy with Tom Cruise
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In brief
Digger is a satirical black comedy film directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu starring Tom Cruise, set to release in the United States and United Kingdom on October 2, 2026. The film centers on a powerful oil tycoon who causes a catastrophe in Greenland; it received mixed reactions from critics.
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Digger is a satirical black comedy film bearing the signature of Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The film, a co-production of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, will be released in the United States and United Kingdom on October 2, 2026; its premiere in London took place on September 22, 2026.
The film marks Iñárritu's first English-language project since The Revenant in 2015. The production was filmed at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom between November 2024 and May 2025, over a period of six months.
Story and Cast
In the plot, a character described as the world's most powerful man attempts to prove he is humanity's savior by preventing a potentially world-destroying catastrophe triggered by his own company in Greenland. The film is officially described as 'a catastrophic comedy.'
Tom Cruise portrays Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon. The cast also includes names such as Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Emma D'Arcy, and Sophie Wilde.
The screenplay was written by Iñárritu alongside Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Nicolás Giacobone. Emmanuel Lubezki served as director of photography; the film was shot in 35mm VistaVision format. The music is scored by Cosmo Sheldrake.
Budget and Production
The film was produced as a co-production between the United States, United Kingdom, and Mexico. Its budget is reported to be between 160-180 million dollars. This project also marks the first film under Tom Cruise's deal signed with Warner Bros. in 2024.
Why Were Critical Reactions Mixed?
The film received divided reactions from critics. It is reported to have scored 52 percent positive on Rotten Tomatoes based on 147 critic reviews, and 45/100 on Metacritic.
According to Rotten Tomatoes' editorial assessment, many critics praised Cruise's performance, the film's visual presentation, cinematography, and production design. However, the film's satire was found 'crude' and 'dismissive' by many critics; it was noted that the humor frequently fell flat and the tone was inconsistent throughout the film.
It borrows Dr. Strangelove's doomsday architecture but leaves behind its cleverness.
The same critic summed up the film's main problem as 'it's not funny.' David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter compared it to the 'inflated' works of directors who operate on the egos of celebrities. However, Tim Cogshell from Alt Film Guide characterized the film as 'the 21st century's still-young Dr. Strangelove.'
Many critics compared the film unfavorably to Don't Look Up, the 2021 climate satire. Nevertheless, Cruise's performance was evaluated as one of the most daring roles of his career and was characterized as 'completely committed' acting.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Director | Alejandro G. Iñárritu |
| Lead Role | Tom Cruise (Digger Rockwell) |
| Release Date (US/UK) | October 2, 2026 |
| London Premiere | September 22, 2026 |
| Studio | Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary Pictures |
| Budget | 160-180 million dollars (reported) |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 52% (147 critics) |
| Metacritic | 45/100 |
Questions
- When did Digger premiere?
- The film had its premiere in London on September 22, 2026, and will have its wide release in the United States and United Kingdom on October 2, 2026.
- What is the plot of Digger?
- The film centers on a character described as the world's most powerful man who attempts to prove he is humanity's savior by preventing a potentially global catastrophe caused by his company in Greenland. Tom Cruise plays this character, the oil tycoon Digger Rockwell.
- Who directed Digger and who stars in it?
- The film was directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Tom Cruise plays the lead role, with Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, and Emma D'Arcy also in the cast.
- How did Digger receive critical reactions?
- The film received mixed reviews: it scored 52 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 45/100 on Metacritic. Critics praised Cruise's performance and the film's visual presentation, but found the satire crude and the humor ineffective.
- Why is Digger an important film for Iñárritu?
- Digger marks Iñárritu's first English-language film since The Revenant in 2015.
How the world is telling it
- EnglishUS-based film media (Variety, Rotten Tomatoes editorial) evaluate the film largely around Cruise's risk-taking in his career and Iñárritu's directorial ambition; criticism focuses on the film's satire being found weak in comparison to Don't Look Up.
Sources
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