Tom Cruise Officially Set to Lose to Brad Pitt in His Biggest Box-Office Disaster

Tom Cruise has returned to a non-action role with Digger. However, the satirical black comedy seems to be doomed at the box office. It is set to hit theaters this October, but a recent tracking report by Global Box Office projected, “It may not reach the $15M debut we projected days ago.” If the projection proves true, Tom Cruise could be outperformed at the 2026 box office by his contemporary, Brad Pitt, another fan-favorite action star.

Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast released in theaters on September 25. The survival action thriller opened to $20 million (via Box Office Mojo) at the domestic box office, while grossing $30.1 million from 63 international markets, bringing its worldwide opening to $50.1 million. Not only did the movie have a strong domestic opening, but it also earned 50% more overseas.

Tom Cruise Is Heading Toward a Rare Box-Office Low With Digger

Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell in Digger | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

If Digger opens below $15 million domestically, it would be a new box-office disaster for Cruise, whose lowest debuts in the last decade were The Mummy ($31.7 million) and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back ($23 million). The movie was made on a $125 million budget, so opening below $15 million would mark a really unwanted milestone in the actor’s career.

Two weeks ago, the Global Box Office projected that Digger would have a $20 million domestic opening, which was lowered to $15 million a week later, on September 23. Now, the report says that the movie might fail to reach even a $15 million domestic opening.

Why Tom Cruise’s $125 Million Movie Is Set for a Box-Office Disaster

Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Tom Cruise returned to serious acting as Digger Rockwell. But the movie hasn’t generated the expected first reactions. Following its September 22 press screening, critics have expressed divided opinions. While some have praised Cruise’s performance, others lamented that Digger couldn’t land the way director Alejandro González Iñárritu wanted it to. One critic has noted that while it is a gorgeous art film, Digger could fail to score with mainstream audiences, unlike Tom Cruise’s box-office hits. At the same time, if the projected opening happens, it will be his weakest opening film with Warner Bros.

Digger arrives in U.S. theaters on October 2. What do you think about its tracking report? Comment below.