‘Digger’: Tom Cruise’s “Brave Gorgeous Misfire” Gets Very Mixed First Reactions

Tom Cruise‘s Digger is being called a very big swing of a dramatic satire that’s provoking mixed-to-negative reactions after the film’s first press screenings.

In Digger, Cruise — nearly unrecognizable in makeup and prosthetics — plays an oblivious oil tycoon whose drilling in Greenland dislodges an ice shelf from a glacier that’s going to cause a global disaster. He must race to prove that he’s humanity’s savior before the ecological accident wreaks havoc on the planet. The film also stars Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.

The apocalyptic film from Alejandro G. Iñárritu is being called everything from “brave” to “baffling” to an outright “misfire” after screenings were held in New York and Los Angeles. The story, which is also drawing comparisons to Dr. Strangelove, also includes a very big reveal — which we won’t spoil — that is getting strong reactions from the crowd.

Still, many critics expect Digger will be a strong awards contender, particularly for Cruise’s performance and the film’s production design, but also expect Warner Bros. and Legendary to have a very tough time recouping their estimated $130 million investment (“I expect a HORRENDOUS CinemaScore,” one critic predicted).

Here are some of the first reactions:

Anne Thompson (IndieWire): “A.G. Iñárritu’s Digger is a brave and gorgeous art film that will not score with mainstream audiences but will play best for the Academy, especially crafts and actors. But critics will divide on Cruise. The tour-de-force amphitheater scene might put him across. Riz Ahmed is fab.”

Ryan Lattanzio (Screen Talk): “The problem with continuing to make statements about your own art and reflect on your own legacy is that you’ll eventually ruin both. A self-indulgent miscalculation from end to end.”

Mike Ryan: “Tom Cruise, as you probably expect, is *going for it* in DIGGER, which makes me want to like it. Though I find some plot choices baffling. There are very interesting moments in a meta, Cruise’s career way, but MAVERICK did them better. (It’s also kind of generally unpleasant.)”

Edward Douglas (The Weekend Warrior Show): “I cannot say that Digger is very good, although I could tell what Iñarritu and Cruise were going for. There is a major reveal (not a twist) towards the end that almost justifies the craziness… but it will be a tough movie to review, and I expect a HORRENDOUS CinemaScore.”

Hoai-Tran Bui (Inverse): “Very mixed on DIGGER which had things I liked (Cruise’s performance included) and things I found absolutely insufferable. I wasn’t a devoted Inarritu hater before this but now I kind of get it!”

Chris Gore (Film Threat): “Digger is the biggest swing of Cruise’s career. It’s either going to blow your mind or you’ll have other thoughts when you learn what is really happening in Iñárritu’s masterfully directed film.”

Matt Neglia (Next Best Picture): “This is Tom Cruise’s most dynamic and interesting role in years, and it provides him plenty of space to preach to the back row but not enough to dig deeper and deliver a performance that could’ve had far more power and nuance had Alejandro González Iñárritu’s ambitious split narrative not been so imbalanced in favor of its zany but empty theatrics. Nobody else is given enough material to fully flesh out their characters … Less of a bang and more of a hollow misfire.”

Joey Magidson (Awards Radar): “Digger is a mess. Tom Cruise and Alejandro G. Iñárritu are taking a massive swing here, but despite some great production design and a commitment to their big choices, not a whole lot works here. Cruise is good and Riz Ahmed is a highlight, but man this wasn’t enjoyable.”

Scott Menzel: “Alejandro González Iñárritu continues to take big swings and make bold choices as a writer and filmmaker. While this film certainly won’t work for everyone, I found the pairing of Iñárritu and Tom Cruise to be an engaging and one of a kind experience. Cruise really does have a knack for comedy, and while not all the jokes land, he fully commits to his performances and the material…This is very much the type of film that will take a bit of time to process after you see it … Digger is ambitious, messy and strange, but it is also a film that will be incredibly divisive and get people talking. It does what good art should do so even if it’s not a perfect film.”

Clayton Davis (Variety): “Digger is not what people are expecting — and how audiences react may be the ultimate test of Tom Cruise’s star power. I respect the swing and what Alejandro González Iñárritu is going for. Tom Cruise and John Goodman are delivering stellar work (Sophie Wilde might be best in show for me), and the production design and cinematography are impressive (we’ve missed you, Chivo). In the end, not all the dots connect, and I wish the film leaned harder into the absurdity and satire it kept reaching for. Shocker! The divide on this one is going to be wide.”

Jack Hamilton (Good Day Chicago): “DIGGER is my favorite film of ‘26 — I avoided spoilers, so the surprises had an incredible impact. A bit Kubrick, a bit BLACK MIRROR but also feels original — a surreal, weird, funny study on (human) nature and storytelling. Tom Cruise’s performance ranks among his career best.”

Kristen Lopez (The Film Maven): “DIGGER is a very mixed bag. You’ll get what it’s saying, and the concept is interesting, but it doesn’t trust the audience enough not to hold its hand. Riz Ahmed is great. The Cruise performance is solid. Hard to do satire when the absurdity is so prominent in reality.”