Ben Affleck defends Tom Cruise's Digger after box office struggles
Digger has lost most of its theaters after two weeks, with about $15 million in box office earnings, while Neil Young praised the film as the best he has seen.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
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What happened
Tom Cruise's film Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, has underperformed at the box office and is losing most of its theaters after two weeks. Despite this, several celebrities have praised the film, including Neil Young, who called it the best film he has ever seen. Ben Affleck defended the movie on a podcast, calling it ambitious and criticizing those celebrating its box office underperformance.
Why it matters
Affleck argued that criticizing ambitious films could push studios toward safer projects in the future.
Timeline
- Oct 2: Digger was released in theaters worldwide.
- Oct 15, 7:43 PM ET: Digger was reported to be losing 2,533 theaters the next day after two weeks and about $15 million at the box office.
- Oct 15, 8:18 PM ET: Ben Affleck argued that criticism of the film could lead studios to choose safer projects.
- Oct 16, 2:33 AM ET: Ben Affleck backed the film on a podcast, calling it ambitious and criticizing those celebrating its box office underperformance.
Coverage
- After Anne Hathaway, Ben Affleck backs Tom Cruise’s Digger amid box-office struggle, calls it ‘ambitious’ (Economic Times)
- Ben Affleck Says Digger Bomb Will Lead to 'Shitty Homogenized Movies' (McKinley Franklin)
- Tom Cruise's 128-Minute Epic Leaves 2,535 Theaters as One of the Year's Biggest Box Office Flops (movieweb.com)
- UPDATE: Tom Cruise's "Digger" Losing 2,533 Theaters Tomorrow After Just 2 Weeks, $15 Million Box Office, Remaining Down to 1 or 2 Shows (showbiz411.com)
- The Strange Celebrity Campaign to Save Tom Cruise's ‘Digger’ (theankler.com)
- Neil Young Praises 'Digger': 'The Best Film I Have Ever Seen' (rollingstone.com)
- ‘Digger’s Positive Reviews From Ben Affleck, Neil Young & More Amid Box Office Bomb: “If You Punish Movies That Take Risks” You’ll Get “A Bunch Of Sh***y Homogenized Movies” (deadline.com)
- Tom Cruise’s Digger could become one of the biggest flops in film history – and it’s not the only box office disaster this year (nine.com.au)
- Ben Affleck slams those celebrating Tom Cruise’s Digger box office failure, compares it to high school bullying: ‘Everybody wants to count money’ (Hindustan Times)
- Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ tanks at box office, leaves studio with $250-million hole (Agence France-Presse)
- Tom Cruise's Digger loses theaters after disappointing box office
- Tom Cruise's Digger tipped as a major box office disaster
- Sorkin's The Social Reckoning opens to $5.5 million, fifth place
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