Tom Cruise is still betting on Digger. The movie was pitched as his first non-action role in nearly a decade. The actor plays Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon who suddenly finds himself at the center of a global disaster after one of his rigs in Antarctica malfunctions and sends massive ice caps toward Europe. The box office, however, has not been nearly as kind. Digger is now shaping up to be Cruise’s biggest flop in decades, but the disappointing opening has not crushed his optimism.

Rather than writing the movie off based on its first weekend, Cruise believes some films need time to find their audience and prove their staying power.

Tom Cruise is looking beyond its opening numbers

Tom Cruise, during an interview on the On Film With Kevin McCarthy podcast, made it clear that he cares more about making movies that stick with fans rather than chase a big opening weekend. Looking back at hits like Rain Man and Born on the Fourth of July, he pointed out how films once had the chance to stay in theaters for months, giving fans plenty of time to discover them. That is the kind of staying power he still hopes to achieve.

“They transcend… you just hope you can make a film that can last,” said the Top Gun star.

Cruise also shared that he wants to make something that can “translate and last and evolve.” And in his eyes, Digger is one of those movies. To make his point, Cruise looked back at Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. He recalled how “everybody killed” it when it opened in theaters. Over time, however, Blade Runner found its audience and went on to become one of the most acclaimed sci-fi movies ever made. Cruise may be looking at the bigger picture, but the box office numbers are telling a very different story.

Digger is now expected to lose somewhere between $150 million and $200 million from its theatrical run, while critics have also come down hard on the movie. 

Can Digger bounce back?

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s satirical film has already had a disastrous start at the box office. The movie opened to a dismal $8 million domestically and just $20 million worldwide. With such a weak opening weekend, box office analysts now expect the film to struggle to even cross $50 million worldwide by the end of its theatrical run.

It also received a C+ CinemaScore from opening-night audiences, signaling weak word-of-mouth. That kind of reception typically leads to steep box office drops in the weeks that follow, making the long-term legs Tom Cruise is hoping for even harder to achieve.

What do you think about Tom Cruise’s response to Digger‘s reception? Let us know in the comments!