Not even a Tom Cruise-filled, all-stops-pulled press tour — including a GQ cover, a “New Heights” podcast appearance and a “Risky Business”-inspired jaunt down the “Jennifer Hudson Show” spirit tunnel — could keep “Digger” from flatlining at the box office.
Warner Bros.’ R-rated black comedy generated $3.4 million from 3,321 North American theaters on Friday following a slew of negative reviews and divided word of mouth. The film is shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest flops, with estimates of just $7.5 million domestically in its opening weekend. The film was greenlit at $125 million but ended up ballooning to $160 and $180 million after production ran long, according to knowledgeable sources. That’s a problem because the studio splits ticket sales with theater owners, meaning “Digger” is primed to lose many millions in its theatrical run.
With general audiences rejecting “Digger,” Amazon MGM’s psycho-thriller “Verity” took the top spot on Friday with $15.1 million from 3,510 North American theaters. The movie is expected to make $33.6 million domestically through the weekend.
Finally, in fifth, was A24’s “Primetime.” The film grossed $2.49 million on Friday and should pull in another $7.5 million by Sunday. The film’s opening weekend registered as the third-best for A24 behind “Backrooms” ($81.4 million) and “Civil War” ($25.5 million), and the Robert Pattinson-led drama has pulled in $28.58 million domestically thus far.
