Tom Cruise's Digger slammed as 'woke' climate change movie while becoming star's biggest box office flop

It's not all Mission: Impossible and Top Gun when it comes to Tom Cruise's impressive CV, with many remembering him for getting his big break in Risky Business.

With everything from Interview with a Vampire to Jerry Maguire under his belt, a more out-there performance saw him steal the show as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder.

Veering into the Grossman zone once again for Digger, Birdman's Alejandro G. Iñárritu helms this satirical black comedy film that's supposed to offer Cruise something new in his post-Ethan Hunt days.

Unfortunately, Digger's apparent message on climate change is getting the 'cold shoulder' from fans, with the movie shaping up to be Cruise's box-office bomb.

Why are people calling Digger 'woke'?

Digger focuses on Cruise as the titular Digger Rockwell, an aging oil magnate who joins forces with the US government to try and stop a massive glacier from destroying Europe. Digger's oil business is blamed for the ice shelf breaking free, and while we won't spoil the rest of the plot here, it feels more relevant than ever in 2026.

Although some oddly similar events have recently transpired when a Manhattan-sized iceberg broke free in Greenland, a vocal minority has accused Digger of trying to shove the message of climate change down our throats.

Just like Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove felt like it had something to say about nuclear war in the midst of the Cold War, Digger is well-timed to discuss climate change and the ever-looming threat of our own nuclear destruction.

This hasn't gone down well on some corners of X, with climate change detractors sounding off under a post of Cruise's celebrating Digger's release.

The Hollywood megastar wrote: "I am so honored to have had the opportunity to create this film alongside such talented artists. Thank you to the entire cast and crew for your dedication, hard work, and joy. The experience was truly unforgettable and I’m so proud of what we created."

According to the @isitwoke account, Digger is officially 'woke' because "climate activist dialogue drives the story," "powerful men face feminist criticism," and "Christian prayer becomes a target for mockery."

Even though some might consider the @isitwoke account a farce in itself, it seems film fans are taking note.

Replying under Cruise's post, one critic wrote: "I was looking forward to seeing this movie. After hearing views about how 'woke' DIGGER is, I’m not anymore. Tom, you are one of the last true movie stars. It’s a shame you got involved with such a woke movie."

Another vented: "I heard it's a political climate change movie...gonna pass Tom. Nobody likes being lectured to in movies."

A third said: "It’s official, Cruise and Iñiarritu made the most woke film in history."

Not everyone was as critical, as someone else concluded: "Yes it is a preachy climate movie but it was so clever and hilarious even a MAGA like me loved it."

How is Digger performing at the box office?

Neither Cruise nor Iñárritu are likely to be too fazed by the general grumblings of some vexed viewers, with the director telling The New York Times he'd rather Digger get a polarizing reception than a lukewarm one. Opening up about the message of climate change, Iñárritu explained: "This film is a disaster movie, but the disaster is us. The world is so beautiful and so incredible. There are so many resources, and the balance of the ecosystem is just insanely beautiful.

“If we can get together in the same room, in the same reality, and understand where we are in the narrative, I think it’s hopeful."

Saying Digger is "not like an ice cream," he admitted he expected its reception to be a tale of two halves.

At the time of writing, Digger is also a mixed bag on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics awarding it 51% and audiences being a little kinder with 73%.

While Iñárritu and Cruise might not be worried about the movie's reception, they could be more concerned about its box office results.

Digger faces a climate crisis of its own with a worldwide opening weekend of just $20 million. $8 million of that was in the US alone, and although this isn't horrendous, Digger's price tag of up to $180 million, with a reported $100 million on top of that for marketing, is hard to swallow.

With Digger predicted to lose anywhere between $150 million and $200 million for Warner Bros., it looks destined to top Cruise's previous biggest flop after 2017's The Mummy supposedly lost Universal Pictures $95 million.