Mainstream Critics Trash Tom Cruise’s Digger While Letterboxd Cinephiles Crown It an Immediate Fan Favorite

Image: Collected

Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s wild new satire Digger, starring Tom Cruise, has ignited a fierce divide across the film world, earning a dismal reception from mainstream critics while being embraced as an instant cult hit by film buffs on social media.

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film debuted to a rotten score hovering around 52% to 53%, making it Tom Cruise’s lowest-rated film in over a decade. Mainstream critics have blasted the satirical comedy-drama as "insufferable," "a real mess," and "frustrating," pointing out its jarring mid-movie narrative twists and heavy-handed messaging.

However, the story looks vastly different over on Letterboxd, the popular social platform for movie lovers. There, Digger has held strong with a respectable 3.7 out of 5 rating. Cinephiles on the app are praising Iñárritu’s bold directorial swings and Cruise's unhinged performance, with many calling it "the stupidest movie of the year—and also great."

The stark contrast highlights a growing divide between traditional critics—who view the Greenland-set oil tycoon satire as an uncohesive experiment—and online film fans who are celebrating its chaotic, uncompromising ambition.