Tom Cruise's Digger divides critics with sharply contrasting reviews

Summarised from 5 outlets · 11 reports · Updated 2 Oct, 11:55 · Archive

Tom Cruise's new film Digger, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, has received polarised reviews ranging from praise for its ambition to criticism of its execution.

Tom Cruise's latest film Digger, written and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (known for The Revenant and Birdman), marks the actor's return to eccentric cinema after more than a decade away from the action genre. In the film, Cruise plays an eccentric oil tycoon who accidentally unleashes an ecological disaster that threatens all of humanity.

The film has received sharply divided critical responses. Some reviewers have praised its audacity and satirical ambition as bold and often brilliant film-making. Others have been highly critical, with Metro stating it was 'a disaster' and calling it aggressively unfunny. Reviews have ranged from describing the film as 'a masterpiece' to 'insufferable', whilst some have called it 'pointless' and 'empty'.

The polarised reception emerged following the film's world premiere, with initial reactions on social media markedly split between those admiring the film's ambition and those declaring it 'a hollow misfire'. The critical divide prompted observations that the film represents one of Cruise's biggest risks to date.

The film's marketing team has leaned into its divisive reputation. Days before the film's release, a new promotional campaign was launched that highlights the brutally divided reviews, using contrasting critical responses in its advertising. According to The Guardian, the campaign includes an online advertisement in which Cruise, in his role in the film, addresses critics directly.

Some outlets have speculated on the film's commercial prospects. The New York Post reports that the film could make as little as $8 million to $12 million in its opening weekend. The film has already generated significant public discussion and debate about its merits.

How it is being reported

• Is the Tom Cruise Movie ‘Digger’ Streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video?Yes, that's really Tom Cruise.New York Post · 1 Oct, 16:30
• Don’t hate the movie, hate the critic! Digger’s new PR push is a risky bet for film that was never meant to be divisive‘SAME FILM – DIFFERENT TRUTH’ is the marketing solution for the film’s poor reception by critics. Or, as Cruise says in the ad, ‘Fuck those people!’ ‘You know what? Fuck those people!” The speaker is Tom Cruise in his serious-fatsuit role of Digger, in the bold new online ad which gives the finger to his film’s bad reviews and the haters. His words are now repurposed to address loathsome critics. The ad’s message is that a provocative, passionate film like this is divisive. You should make your own mind up. Which is true of course. Although it is just as true for films getting…The Guardian · 1 Oct, 11:35
• I was an extra in Digger – this is what Tom Cruise is really like on setTom Cruise’s Digger is undeniably one of the year’s most talked-about yet polarising films of the year (Picture: PA) Speaking about Digger in any capacity feels like a Mission: Impossible. I make no apologies for the pun. So much has been said about Tom Cruise ’s likely Oscars contender and yet…Metro · 30 Sept, 15:33
• Tom Cruise’s disastrous ‘Digger’ could make as little as $8M to $12M in terrible opening weekendAlas, the movie will mark the end for Warner Bros. as a stand-alone studio. Within days, it'll become part of the Paramount merger.New York Post · 30 Sept, 14:45
• ‘Digger’s Wildest Twist? How It Cuts Big Movie Star Tom Cruise Back Down to SizeIt's hard to fully love the misdirection of Digger but it's also something to see.New York Post · 30 Sept, 14:15
• Digger's New Promo Video Is Already Poking Fun At The Film's Divisive ReputationThey say there’s no such thing as bad publicity – and the team behind Digger clearly agrees. Before most of us even had the chance to watch it, the critical reaction to Tom Cruise ’s new disaster movie has been completely polarised, with some praising its audacity and ambition, while others have called the film “unfunny”, “pointless” and “empty”. Days before its release, a new marketing campaign for Digger has now been released, highlighting its reputation for being brutally divisive. The latest marketing campaign for Tom Cruise’s satire highlighted the brutally divided reviews, using both…HuffPost UK · 30 Sept, 12:46
• Tom Cruise's Digger is branded 'the biggest risk of his career' as 'love it or hate it' film divides critics with polarising reviews ranging from 'a masterpiece' and 'insufferable'Tom Cruise's riskiest role to date in Digger has divided critics, with reviews of the film ranging from 'a masterpiece' to 'insufferable'.Daily Mail · 30 Sept, 10:49
• 'Aggressively Unfunny' Or 'Terrific Fun'? Tom Cruise's Digger Continues To Divide CriticsFor the first time in more than a decade, Tom Cruise is stepping away from the action genre and revisiting his weird cinema roots. In the new movie Digger , written and directed by The Revenant and Birdman’s Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu, Tom takes the lead as an eccentric oil tycoon who accidentally unleashes an ecological disaster that threatens all of humanity. Initial reactions to its first screenings on social media were markedly split, with some admiring the ambition of the satirical drama, while others were more critical, declaring it “less of a bang and more of a hollow misfire”. Now…HuffPost UK · 30 Sept, 10:19
• Tom Cruise’s Digger is a disaster – I couldn’t wait for it to be overDid I dig it? In a word, no.Metro · 30 Sept, 09:13
• I've already seen Digger twice...this is bold and often brilliant film-making: BRIAN VINER reviews Tom Cruise's latest filmAt the end of last week's world premiere of Digger many of us headed for the exits so perplexed by what we'd just seen that it didn't seem odd to find that we weren't allowed to leave the cinema.Daily Mail · 30 Sept, 07:41
• ‘Digger’ review: Tom Cruise’s laugh-free turd will have audiences stampeding outTom Cruise’s latest film, “Digger” — the actor’s first real stinker in nearly 10 years — really is a rage-inducing sit.New York Post · 29 Sept, 17:00

In this story: Tom Cruise · Alejandro González Iñárritu · Warner Bros. · Paramount

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