Latest Climate Blockbuster Starring Tom Cruise Crashes And Burns At The Box Office

Tom Cruise stepped outside his action-star comfort zone for the climate blockbuster “Digger” — only to watch the film crash and burn at the box office.

“Digger” is being slammed for the way it delivers its climate-themed message. Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, an arrogant oil tycoon whose reckless Arctic digging causes an environmental disaster. His negligence causes a massive explosion on an oil rig off the coast of Greenland, threatening a global climate catastrophe. Critics argue it was the actual film that crashed and burned.

The movie tanked at the box office over the opening weekend, bringing in just $8 million in North America. The production budget of the film was north of $160 million, with some estimating it could exceed $180 million, according to Variety.

“Digger” would need to pull in more than $350 million in worldwide theatrical release just to break even, but it seems to be heading in the opposite direction, according to Variety.

Despite the dismal numbers, Cruise defended his first non-action movie role in more than a decade. He nevertheless came out swinging in defense of the film.

“When I am making [movies], I’m not going, ‘Opening weekend!’ I feel very much like we’re going to make something that is a lasting piece of cinema,” Cruise said in an interview with “On Film With Kevin McCarthy.”

Cruise doubled down by highlighting the authentic approach taken to produce the movie. (RELATED: ‘Digger’ Film Turns A Page In The Postmodern Playbook Behind The Climate Narrative)

“This film is handmade,” he said, seemingly taking a dig at artificial intelligence.

“People want to see real things,” Cruise said, before later adding, “People want real things and they want real experiences.”