Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Is Getting Some Wild First Reactions, From Masterpiece to Mess

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Tom Cruise in 'Digger' | Warner Bros.
Tom Cruise in ‘Digger’ | Warner Bros.

Tom Cruise has taken one enormous swing with Digger, and the first reactions suggest we’re in for something rather extraordinary… or an almighty mess. His ambitious new collaboration with Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu is drawing serious praise for its spectacular visuals, audacious storytelling and committed performances. But there’s a catch: while some are hailing one of Cruise’s finest performances, others are finding its sprawling satire exhausting, frustrating and, perhaps most damningly for a comedy, not particularly funny.

Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, an eccentric, immensely powerful oil tycoon desperately trying to convince the world he can save humanity from a catastrophe he helped unleash. It’s quite a departure from the actor’s recent action blockbusters, with extensive prosthetics, an exaggerated Southern accent and a character who gives him plenty of opportunities to embrace the absurd. Iñárritu, the filmmaker behind Birdman and The Revenant, has assembled an impressive supporting cast that includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlbarg and Sophie Wilde.

The first wave of reactions arrived on September 22, following advance press screenings and the lifting of the social-media embargo. And the response has been anything but unanimous. From declarations that this is among Cruise’s finest performances to complaints about Iñárritu’s exhausting approach to satire, there’s already plenty to unpack. Several critics are also warning audiences that the trailers have barely scratched the surface of what’s in store.

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Tom Cruise Goes for Broke, and Some Critics Are Absolutely Loving It

After spending much of the past decade throwing himself off buildings, hanging from aeroplanes and generally risking life and limb, Cruise has returned to the kind of larger-than-life character work that gave us memorable performances in Magnolia and Tropic Thunder. And some critics are absolutely loving it.

Entertainment journalist Scott Mantz is among the film’s biggest early admirers, describing it as a cinematic experience unlike anything he’s encountered in years.

“DIGGER is a wild, totally absorbing & riveting cinematic experience that’s full of surprises & unlike anything that I have seen this year, or any year. TOM CRUISE is simply magnificent in a big, showy performance & he knocks it out of the park.”

Mantz considers the film Iñárritu’s most ambitious undertaking yet, which is quite a statement considering the director’s previous work. He’s equally enthusiastic about the technical achievements, praising everything from the cinematography and production design to the elaborate costumes and makeup. There’s apparently so much to take in that Mantz is already planning a return visit, admitting that “one viewing simply doesn’t do it justice”. His advice? Keep an open mind, steer clear of spoilers and experience the film without knowing too much about what awaits.

Jim Hemphill of IndieWire is similarly enthusiastic, describing Cruise’s work as his best performance since Magnolia. He’s particularly impressed by Iñárritu’s willingness to take enormous creative risks, offering a rather amusing comparison to the filmmaker’s already ambitious Bardo.

Jake Hamilton is another early viewer who has emerged thoroughly impressed, declaring Digger his favourite film of 2026 so far. Drawing comparisons to Stanley Kubrick and Black Mirror, he praises its originality, surreal humour and considerable surprises, while placing Cruise’s performance among the actor’s career highlights.

In her first reaction, Anne Thompson of IndieWire calls it “a brave and gorgeous art film”, although she doesn’t expect mainstream audiences to embrace what Iñárritu has delivered. She believes the film could fare particularly well with the Academy in technical and acting categories, while anticipating a split among critics over Cruise. She also highlights an ambitious amphitheatre sequence that could prove particularly memorable. Her assessment of Ahmed is considerably more straightforward: “Riz Ahmed is fab.”

Stunning to Look At, but Does the Satire Actually Work?

Tom Cruise and Riz Ahmed in 'Digger' | Warner Bros.
Riz Ahmed and Tom Cruise in ‘Digger’ | Warner Bros.

Here’s where things become considerably more complicated. While there’s plenty of admiration for the film’s craftsmanship, several critics are questioning whether all that extravagance actually amounts to a satisfying story.

Variety‘s chief awards editor Clayton Davis has delivered one of the more interesting mixed reactions. As expressed in an Instagram post, he appreciates the enormous creative gamble and praises both Cruise and Goodman, although he suggests that Wilde might deliver the standout performance. He’s also impressed by the cinematography and production design, particularly the work of three-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, who reunites with Iñárritu for the production. But those technical achievements aren’t enough to overcome Davis’s reservations about the storytelling.

“In the end, not all the dots connect, and I wish the film leaned harder into the absurdity and satire it kept reaching for. Shocker! The divide on this one is going to be wide.”

Davis also suggests that the film’s reception could prove a particularly interesting test of Cruise’s considerable star power, given just how unexpected the finished product apparently is.

Scott Menzel is another critic who admires the unusual pairing of Cruise and Iñárritu without believing every element comes together. He particularly appreciates the actor’s willingness to embrace comedy, noting that Cruise fully commits to the material even when the jokes don’t land. Menzel describes the film as “ambitious, messy and strange”, but finds himself increasingly appreciative of the creative risks taken by the filmmakers.

Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture is considerably less enthusiastic about the finished product, despite finding plenty to admire in the performances and technical achievements. He considers Cruise’s work his most dynamic and interesting in years, but argues that the actor’s considerable efforts are undermined by a narrative more interested in outrageous spectacle than developing its characters.

Neglia praises the production design, cinematography, sound and makeup, but finds the film emotionally hollow. His assessment of Iñárritu’s storytelling is particularly pointed, suggesting that the filmmaker has allowed his enthusiasm for extravagant theatrics to overwhelm the human story at its centre.

Kristen Lopez has another problem with the satire: she believes it doesn’t trust viewers enough to understand what it’s trying to say. While she appreciates the central concept and praises Ahmed, she finds the execution too heavy-handed. The film’s attempts at comedy are another sticking point.

For Other Critics, It’s an Outright Mess

Tom Cruise in 'Digger' | Warner Bros.
Tom Cruise in ‘Digger’ | Warner Bros.

And then there are those who have found precious little to enjoy beyond the performances and technical achievements.

Joey Magidson of Awards Radar is firmly in the negative camp. While he appreciates the impressive production design, Cruise’s commitment and Ahmed’s supporting performance, he finds that very little else works. And he’s certainly not holding back.

Journalist Mike Ryan is similarly unimpressed, although he acknowledges Cruise’s willingness to embrace such an unusual character. In his reaction, Ryan appreciates several ideas involving the actor’s screen persona, but questions a number of the film’s narrative decisions. He also argues that Top Gun: Maverick handled comparable themes more effectively, before offering a particularly unflattering description of the viewing experience: “kind of generally unpleasant”.

Hoai-Tran Bui is another critic who struggles with Iñárritu’s approach. She admits that the film contains elements she appreciates, including Cruise’s performance, alongside others she finds “absolutely insufferable”. Ahmed, once again, escapes much of the criticism, emerging as a consistent highlight even among the film’s detractors.

IndieWire‘s David Ehrlich, meanwhile, is far less impressed by Iñárritu’s comedic instincts. His reaction is short, cutting and comes with a rather unexpected architectural comparison.

Ryan Swen’s assessment is somewhat more forgiving. While he finds the film “often unfunny and flat”, he admires its exploration of humanity’s place in the face of catastrophe. He ultimately considers the film unsuccessful but nevertheless provocative, finding enough interesting ideas to appreciate what Iñárritu is attempting.

There’s Apparently Much More to ‘Digger’ Than the Trailers Suggest

Sandra Hüller and Tom Cruise in 'Digger' | Warner Bros.
Sandra Hüller and Tom Cruise in ‘Digger’ | Warner Bros.

One particularly intriguing aspect of these early reactions concerns just how much of the film’s story has been concealed by its marketing. Several critics suggest that Digger undergoes significant shifts in both tone and narrative direction, with the extravagant satire presented in the trailers apparently developing into something considerably stranger and more sombre.

Neglia, for instance, describes the film as beginning with an enormous helping of absurdist comedy before moving towards a much darker examination of humanity’s future and our apparent inability to prevent catastrophe.

Chris Gore is particularly insistent that audiences avoid learning too much before seeing the film, calling it the biggest creative gamble of Cruise’s career. He also suggests that viewers could emerge with dramatically different interpretations of what Iñárritu has attempted.

Iñárritu himself has requested that early viewers keep the film’s major revelations under wraps. With full reviews still under embargo, there are clearly some substantial surprises yet to be discussed.

When Is Digger Released?

The global review embargo for Digger lifts on Wednesday, September 30, at 2:00 am AEST, when the full critical assessments can be published.

The Warner Bros. film opens in Australian cinemas on Thursday, October 1, followed by its U.S. theatrical release on Friday, October 2, including IMAX screenings. Shot entirely in VistaVision, it’s a production that has clearly been designed with the biggest possible screen in mind.

For now, the early reactions paint a fascinating picture of a film that’s attracting both considerable admiration and frustration. Cruise’s commitment and Iñárritu’s formidable filmmaking are drawing serious praise, but whether the director’s sprawling satire delivers something genuinely remarkable or simply collapses under the weight of its own ambition is proving much harder to agree on.

More Movie Deep Dives:

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Picture of Guillermo Troncoso

Guillermo Troncoso

UPDATE: Rotten Tomatoes-Approved Critic!
Guillermo Troncoso is a Sydney-based film and television journalist and critic. With a love for both blockbusters and indie gems, Guillermo loves nothing more than covering screen entertainment. He remains committed to delivering honest, insightful reviews, news, and more for both die-hard cinephiles and casual viewers alike.
Find him on Twitter and Instagram.
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