Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Divides Critics as Full Reviews Arrive Ahead of Theatrical Release

Tom Cruise’s Digger has become a major talking point in film circles as full reviews for the new Alejandro González Iñárritu movie arrive ahead of its theatrical release, with critics sharply divided over the ambitious climate-disaster satire.

Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, a powerful oil magnate whose drilling operation helps set off a catastrophe with global consequences. The film, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, combines dark comedy, political satire and disaster-movie spectacle while examining wealth, fossil fuels and environmental responsibility.

The critical response published Tuesday, September 29, has been notably split.

The Associated Press described Digger as an ambitious and unusually large-scale satire, comparing its approach to Dr. Strangelove while noting that its attempts at black comedy do not always land. The review nevertheless praised the film’s larger ambitions and Cruise’s performance.

Time Out took a considerably more enthusiastic view, giving the film four out of five stars and praising its audacious approach, elaborate construction and Cruise’s move into a more theatrical, character-driven performance.

Other critics have been far less persuaded.

The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw called the film a disappointing and laborious satire, arguing that its environmental themes are undermined by what he regarded as an overly self-conscious execution.

Variety similarly questioned the film’s balance between satire and spectacle, describing Cruise’s performance as deliberately bombastic while arguing that the movie’s messaging can become overly direct.

The Los Angeles Times also described Digger as a messy climate satire, while acknowledging its striking visual style and Cruise’s willingness to embrace an unusually exaggerated role.

The divided response has made Cruise himself one of the central subjects of the conversation surrounding the film. Rather than playing another action hero, he portrays Digger as an eccentric, wealthy oilman whose personality and decisions are closely tied to the film’s satirical examination of power and environmental crisis.

Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Sandra Hüller are among the film’s supporting cast, with Ahmed playing scientist Ganesh and Goodman portraying the U.S. president.

The film’s unusual structure has also attracted attention. Critics have noted its heightened theatrical style and a meta-narrative that becomes increasingly important as the story progresses. Some reviewers have regarded that approach as part of the film’s ambition, while others have argued that it contributes to its unevenness.

For Cruise, Digger represents a significant change of pace after years dominated by blockbuster action films. The role gives him an opportunity to move away from the familiar heroic persona associated with franchises such as Mission: Impossible and Top Gun and toward a deliberately exaggerated dramatic-comedic character.

That shift appears to be one of the few areas on which the early reviews broadly agree: Cruise is fully committed to the role, even when critics disagree about whether the film surrounding him succeeds.

Digger is scheduled to open in theaters on October 2. Until audiences begin forming their own response, the sharply contrasting reviews have already established the film as one of the more divisive major releases of the fall movie season.