Tom Cruise's satire Digger debuted at 41% on Rotten Tomatoes by one early count, then rose to 53% as critics split over director Alejandro G. Iñárritu's film ahead of its October 2 UK and US release. Digger’s Shockingly Low Rotten Tomatoes Score Could Seriously Hurt Tom Cruise’s Oscar Chances +2
TL;DR
- Digger opened at 41% on Rotten Tomatoes, according to one report, and later stood at 53%.
- CinemaBlend reports it is Cruise's first "rotten" film since The Mummy in 2017.
- MovieWeb reports it is Iñárritu's lowest-rated film on the site.
- Digger reaches UK cinemas on October 2.
Digger's Rotten Tomatoes score and how it compares
The score has moved since the review embargo lifted. A Yahoo Entertainment report said Digger debuted at 41% and later stood at 53% from 87 reviews. MovieWeb logged 52% from 67 reviews, so the figure is still shifting. yahoomovieweb
The number still marks a low point for the star. According to CinemaBlend, Digger holds 53% from 99 reviews, and Cruise's last "rotten" film was The Mummy in 2017, which scored 15%. cinemablend
Digger does beat one earlier Cruise misfire. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back landed a 38% critic rating, according to Collider. collider
53%
Digger, Rotten Tomatoes critics score
Source: CinemaBlend
38%
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Rotten Tomatoes critics score
Source: Collider
Critics split on Cruise's Digger performance
Reviews are divided on Cruise himself. Kristen Lopez of Film Maven gave the film a D+ and said Cruise lacks enough material to rise above the role's hamminess, while Ian Sandwell of Digital Spy gave it three out of five. movieweb
The Associated Press praised Cruise as a performer of male ego at its extremes, according to Men's Journal. Several critics said Iñárritu favoured style over substance, according to Screen Rant. yahooscreenrant
The film casts Cruise as Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon. Rockwell inadvertently triggers an ecological disaster, then scrambles to save the planet, according to BusinessWorld.
Cruise wears grey hair, facial prosthetics and a padded bodysuit. The first makeup session took six hours, and Cruise cut it to under an hour. He said a 10-minute monologue filmed in one take was harder than the makeover, while co-star Sandra Hüller called his work remarkable. Tom Cruise Details Race Against Time For ‘Digger’ Transformation +2
Rough first responses are not unusual for ambitious films. Director Richard Kelly recently described Donnie Darko's initial response as "pretty brutal" before it became a cult classic.
Digger UK release date, BBFC details and premiere
Warner Bros will release Digger in UK cinemas on October 2. The BBFC classified the film on September 11 and lists a runtime of 128 minutes 55 seconds, citing very strong language. Letterboxd reportedly lists a 15 certificate. ‘Digger’ starring Tom Cruise lands UK world premiere +2
128m 55s
UK cinema runtime
Source: BBFC
The film held its world premiere as the Royal Film Performance in London's Leicester Square on September 22, and it was shot and finished in the UK, according to Screen Daily. Prince William and Princess Kate attended. screendailybworldonline
There is a British talent angle too. House of the Dragon star Emma D'Arcy plays Lina. yahoo
What the Digger reviews mean for Cruise's awards push
Warner Bros. and Cruise launched a major awards campaign, and the mixed reception has complicated it. The studio has answered the reviews with a new spot telling fans to decide for themselves. yahoocosmicbook
The audience score is the next number to watch. It goes live when the film opens on Friday, according to Cosmic Book News. cosmicbook
Looking for another big-name return to cinemas? See our guide to Johnny Depp's Day Drinker.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.
