Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Divides Audiences as It Hits Theaters

Image: Collected

Tom Cruise’s latest film, Digger, opened in theaters on October 2 to a storm of polarized reactions, with viewers and critics split between awe, confusion, and outright disgust. The satirical black comedy, directed by Oscar-winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, has quickly become one of the most talked-about—and contentious—releases of the year.

Digger casts Cruise as Digger Rockwell, “the most powerful man in the world,” a bombastic Texas oil magnate who launches a frantic PR campaign to rebrand himself as humanity’s savior amid a climate catastrophe he helped create. Iñárritu, known for Birdman and The Revenant, frames the story as a sharp, often abrasive satire on power, ego, and environmental denial. From its earliest screenings, the film has drawn extreme responses. Some critics hail it as a “masterpiece” and an “acting masterclass” for Cruise, while others dismiss it as “languid,” “unpleasant,” and “spectacularly obnoxious.” As of October 1, Digger held a 52% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a mid-40s Metascore—firmly in “mixed or average” territory.

Inside theaters, reactions have been just as fractured. Social media and early audience reviews show three broad camps. Some viewers praise Cruise’s fearless, high-energy performance and Iñárritu’s ambitious direction, calling the film “brilliant,” “magnificent,” and “never boring.” Others describe the plot as “weird,” “difficult to follow,” and “somewhat confusing,” with several reporting they only understood the film’s point halfway through—or not at all. A vocal group says they “left halfway through,” labeling the movie “horrible,” “boring,” and “not at all what I was expecting.” Warner Bros. has leaned into the division. A new social media ad for Digger flashes opposing phrases—“unpleasant” vs. “masterpiece,” “baffling” vs. “brilliant,” “insufferable” vs. “magnificent”—before ending with a blunt “F*** Those People!” tagline, urging audiences to “decide for yourself.”

Several factors explain the polarization. Iñárritu’s satirical approach is intentionally abrasive, blending dark comedy with moral outrage. That mix delights some but alienates others expecting a conventional Cruise blockbuster. Reviews also disagree sharply on whether Cruise’s loud, theatrical portrayal is a bold character choice or “in-your-face overacting.” After years of action-heavy hits like Mission: Impossible and Top Gun: Maverick, many moviegoers were unprepared for a dense, talky, climate-change satire. IndieWire’s Anne Thompson predicted this divide, calling Digger “a brave and gorgeous art film that will not score with mainstream audiences,” while others praised Cruise’s “most dynamic and interesting role in years” even as they questioned the film’s overall impact.

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With reviews split and audiences walking out or walking away awed, Digger is shaping up as a cultural flashpoint rather than a straightforward hit. Warner Bros.’ decision to highlight the controversy in its marketing suggests the studio is betting that curiosity—and Cruise’s star power—will drive ticket sales despite the mixed critical reception. For now, theatergoers are getting exactly what the ads promise: a film that demands you “decide for yourself”—whether it’s genius, garbage, or something in between.