Amazon MGM’s psychological thriller Verity has decisively beaten Tom Cruise’s big-budget satire Digger at the weekend box office, opening to an estimated $33 million in North America while Cruise’s film managed only about $7.5 million — the star’s weakest debut in nearly two decades.
Both newcomers hit theaters on October 2, but the contest was one-sided from opening day. Verity pulled in around $15 million on its opening day alone from 3,510 locations, while Digger grossed just $3.4 million on Friday, including Thursday previews, from 3,321 locations with IMAX support, according to industry estimates reported by TheWrap.
Verity vs Digger: Weekend Box Office Numbers
Starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, Verity is the big-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Made for a reported $40 million, the thriller is well positioned to turn a modest theatrical profit for Amazon MGM and is expected to draw strong streaming interest on Prime Video. Audience reception was lukewarm but encouraging: the film earned a C+ CinemaScore and a 34 percent critics’ score against a 69 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Many of the early moviegoers were fans of Hoover’s book, whose previous screen adaptations include It Ends With Us, Regretting You and Reminders of Him. For some of those fans, the film did not quite deliver the creepy, steamy thrills of the source material — but the turnout was enough to leave every other new release far behind.
Digger Sinks Despite Tom Cruise’s Oscar Hopes
For Digger, the picture is far darker. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the satire was made for at least $125 million, with some reports putting the final cost at $160 million or more — making an estimated $7.5 million opening a near-certain heavy loss for Warner Bros. and Legendary.
The result is Cruise’s lowest opening weekend since the 2007 war drama Lions for Lambs, which co-starred Robert Redford and Meryl Streep and opened to $6.7 million — on a far smaller theater count and at a fraction of Digger’s budget. Audiences gave Digger a C+ CinemaScore, and critics split down the middle, with a 51 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes against a 71 percent audience score.
In the film, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an egotistical oil tycoon whose actions trigger a natural disaster — a dramatic departure from the action franchises that built his box office record, with Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Sandra Hüller among the supporting cast.
Tom Cruise Stands by Digger
Despite the mixed response and soft ticket sales, Cruise has stood firmly behind the project. Taking to social media on Saturday with behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot, the superstar wrote: “Digger is officially in theaters and I am so honored to have had the opportunity to create this film alongside such talented artists. Thank you to the entire cast and crew for their dedication, hard work and joy. The experience was truly unforgettable and I’m so proud of what we created.”
The film has also drawn support from fellow filmmakers. Director Guillermo del Toro praised its scale and ambition, calling it a decidedly theatrical experience and noting that harsh opening reactions are nothing new — pointing to similar rough receptions for The Big Lebowski, The King of Comedy and The Counselor. Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell called the film a “visionary spectacle” and “pure cinematic joy” that would “stand the test of time.”
Box Office Showdown at a Glance
| Film | Opening Weekend (est.) | Budget | CinemaScore | Rotten Tomatoes (critics / audience) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verity | $33 million | $40 million | C+ | 34% / 69% |
| Digger | $7.5 million | $125M+ (reportedly up to $160M) | C+ | 51% / 71% |
What It Means for the Weekend
The overall box office was up 17 percent compared with the same weekend last year, helped by the two newcomers and solid holdovers. Sony’s Resident Evil took second place with $12.5 million in its third weekend, lifting its domestic total to $125 million. Paramount’s Heart of the Beast held third with $11 million in its second weekend, while A24’s Primetime fell 56 percent from its $19 million opening to $8 million.
For Warner Bros., the sting is compounded by timing: Digger is the studio’s final release before its acquisition by Paramount is completed, ending its run as an independent studio on a costly misfire. For more entertainment and showbiz coverage, visit Watan News International.
FAKTA
- Winner: Verity opened to an estimated $33 million from 3,510 locations (Amazon MGM, budget $40 million).
- Loser: Digger opened to an estimated $7.5 million from 3,321 locations (Warner Bros./Legendary, budget at least $125 million).
- Cruise milestone: Weakest Tom Cruise opening since 2007’s Lions for Lambs ($6.7 million).
- Stars: Verity — Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson; Digger — Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller.
- Directors: Michael Showalter (Verity); Alejandro González Iñárritu (Digger).
- Cruise’s response: “I’m so proud of what we created,” he posted on Saturday.
Conclusion
Verity has turned the first weekend of October into a decisive victory for mid-budget filmmaking, while Digger joins a growing list of expensive star-driven bets that audiences simply did not buy into. Cruise’s pride in the film and the warm words from fellow directors suggest Digger may still find its defenders — but on the numbers, this weekend belonged to Hathaway, Johnson and Colleen Hoover’s fans.
