John Goodman Blames Film Critics for 'Digger's Box Office Flop
The actor says negative pre-release buzz from critics contributed to the movie's poor performance.
John Goodman has attributed the box office flop of 'Digger' to negative pre-release buzz from film critics, stating it 'kinda killed us.' The movie, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, is considered one of the most costly studio flops in Hollywood history, despite receiving praise from some Hollywood celebrities including Neil Young, Mandy Patinkin, Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, and Ben Affleck.
According to reports, 'Digger' faced financial challenges, with its box office earnings reportedly being $49 million against a budget of $125–180 million. This contrasts with the confirmed figure of $15 million for its domestic box office debut. Critics gave 'Digger' a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audience ratings stood at 77%, indicating a disconnect between professional and public opinion.
The film, which explores themes related to climate change and features a significant plot twist, stars Tom Cruise as an oil tycoon and John Goodman as the U.S. President. Despite its critical reception, 'Digger' managed to garner some positive attention, with IGN rating it 6 out of 10 and praising its strong performances and humor.
However, the movie's financial performance was notably weak, with reported earnings far below expectations. This discrepancy highlights the impact of pre-release criticism on audience expectations and willingness to see the film. Additionally, John Goodman himself was affected by the box office failure, having suffered a hip injury during the film's production.
The UK premiere of 'Digger' took place in late October, with first reactions appearing on social media shortly after. The movie's release date was set for early October 2026, marking a significant event in the film industry's calendar.
What we know
- 'Digger' is one of the most costly studio flops in Hollywood history. 1
- Critics gave 'Digger' a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 124
- The movie received negative pre-release buzz. 13
- Digger is a climate change satire directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. 34
- Domestic box office debut was $15 million. 1
- John Goodman was hurt by the box office failure of 'Digger'. 3
- Audience ratings for Digger were higher than critic ratings, at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. 4
- Digger explores themes related to climate change and features a significant plot twist. 4
- Tom Cruise played an oil tycoon in 'Digger'. 14
- John Goodman portrayed the U.S. President in 'Digger'. 1
- Hollywood celebrities praised 'Digger'. 1
- IGN rated Digger 6 out of 10. 2
- Digger features strong performances and humor. 2
- Digger is described as a grand, unpleasant, and expensive movie. 3
- Digger's UK premiere was in late October. 4
- Digger's release date was early October 2026. 4
- John Goodman suffered a hip injury during the film's production. 4
What remains unclear
Trust Score report
Likely accurate — probability of truth 66%, weighted across 20 claims from 4 independent outlets.
- likely 'Digger' is considered one of the most costly studio flops in Hollywood history. (71%)
- unverified Digger's box office earnings were $49 million against a budget of $125–180 million. (63%)
- disputed 'Digger' cost more than $160 million to produce. (37%)
- disputed 'Digger' did not cross $50 million in worldwide earnings after one month in theaters. (37%)
- confirmed Critics gave 'Digger' a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (91%)
- likely The movie 'Digger' received negative pre-release buzz. (84%)
- likely Digger is a climate change satire directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. (81%)
- likely 'Digger' had a domestic box office debut of $15 million. (71%)
- likely John Goodman was hurt by the box office failure of 'Digger'. (68%)
- likely Audience ratings for Digger were higher than critic ratings, at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. (66%)
- likely Digger explores themes related to climate change and features a significant plot twist. (66%)
- likely Tom Cruise played an oil tycoon in 'Digger'. (82%)
- likely John Goodman portrayed the U.S. President in 'Digger'. (71%)
- likely Hollywood celebrities such as Neil Young, Mandy Patinkin, Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, and Ben Affleck praised 'Digger'. (71%)
- likely IGN rated Digger 6 out of 10. (68%)
- likely Digger features strong performances and humor, according to IGN's review. (68%)
- likely Digger is described as a grand, unpleasant, and expensive movie. (68%)
- likely Digger's UK premiere was in late October, with first reactions appearing on social media shortly after. (66%)
- likely Digger's release date was early October 2026. (66%)
- likely John Goodman suffered a hip injury during the film's production. (66%)
Sources
- Variety — John Goodman Says ‘Digger’ Was ‘Killed’ by Critics ‘Before We Even Opened’ and ‘It Hurt’
https://variety.com/2026/film/news/john-goodman-digger-killed-by-critics-before-opening-1236937556/ - IGN — John Goodman Says Digger Reviews 'Killed' the Movie Before It Was Released
https://www.ign.com/articles/john-goodman-says-digger-reviews-killed-the-movie-before-it-was-released - The A.V. Club — John Goodman blames film critics for burying Digger before its release: "It kinda killed us"
https://www.avclub.com/john-goodman-blames-critics-for-digger-bomb - CinemaBlend — Digger Took A Big, Bold Swing. John Goodman Thinks It Was ‘Killed’ Before It Even Opened
https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/john-goodman-said-digger-took-bold-swing-thinks-movie-was-killed-before-opening