Alejandro González Iñárritu’s satirical dark comedy Digger, starring Tom Cruise as a megalomaniacal tycoon facing a global disaster, has split critics down the middle following its first press screenings, setting up a deeply polarizing theatrical release on October 2.
Tom Cruise Plays Digger Rockwell in an Ambitious Global Catastrophe Satire
Early trailers for the Warner Bros. release teased an absurd farce centered on a megalomaniacal billionaire whose hunger for power triggers a catastrophe he struggles to contain. Yet those initial clips masked a deeper, darker shift within the narrative, leading to a twist that will make or break the film for many.
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who conceived the story alongside Sabina Berman and Jez Butterworth, the film defies expectations by pivoting from broad satire into a somber, apocalyptic warning. Despite pre-release speculation across the internet, Digger is not a musical. Instead, it relies on a stacked ensemble cast that features John Goodman on explosive form alongside Riz Ahmed and Michael Stuhlbarg as wide-eyed advisers caught in the impending doom, with Clayton Davis noting that Sophie Wilde might be best in show.
Critics Divide Over Iñárritu and Cruise’s Bold Swing
Critical reception following the initial screenings has been sharply partitioned, earning comparisons to form-playing pictures like Adam McKay’s Vice and Todd Phillips’s Joker: Folie à Deux. While some reviewers have hailed the project as an audacious masterpiece, others have dismissed it as a messy misfire.
“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.”
Photo: joblo.com
Clayton Davis, via Variety and Joblo
ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley praised the picture as an extremely important film and named it a top contender for Best Picture, admitting he had initially hated the trailers before being proven wrong. Jake Hamilton of Jake’s Takes echoed that enthusiasm, calling it his favorite film of 2026 and describing the experience as a bit Kubrick, a bit BLACK MIRROR but also feels original.
Conversely, other prominent critics pushed back against the film’s tonal leaps. Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture praised the technical crafts and Cruise’s performance, but ultimately characterized the project as a hollow misfire weighed down by an imbalanced narrative that leaves nobody given enough material to fully flesh out their characters. Mike Ryan labeled the film generally unpleasant, while Awards Radar’s Joey Magidson called it a mess, stating that not a whole lot works here.
Oscar Buzz Builds for Cruise and Supporting Cast Ahead of October Release
Despite the polarizing reviews regarding the script and narrative structure, awards pundits are rallying around the film’s performances and technical execution. Cruise, 64, is actively positioning himself for his fourth career acting Oscar nomination, following previous nods for Born on the Fourth of July in 1989, Jerry Maguire in 1996, and Magnolia in 1999. However, it doesn’t seem like Iñárritu will be adding a third Best Director Oscar to his shelf, following his consecutive wins in 2015 and 2016 for Birdman and The Revenant, though the film is widely expected to be a major player in technical categories like production design and cinematography.
DIGGER Out of the Theater Reaction! | Tom Cruise | Riz Ahmed | Iñárritu
Reviewers have also singled out Riz Ahmed and Sophie Wilde for standout supporting turns. IndieWire’s Anne Thompson noted that the film will not score with mainstream audiences but will play best for the Academy, especially crafts and actors, pointing to a demanding amphitheater scene as a potential showcase for Cruise. Warner Bros. has scheduled the wide theatrical release for October 2.
