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Tom Cruise has spent decades saving the world on screen, but his latest mission has delivered a very different result.
His new film Digger is reportedly heading for a loss of more than $150 million, making it one of the biggest financial setbacks of his career.
The satire, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, reportedly cost $150 million to produce, with another $100 million spent on marketing.
Read More: Tom Cruise addresses fans ‘disappointment’ after ‘Digger’ poor performance
Cruise plays an ageing oil tycoon whose actions trigger an environmental disaster, only for him to launch a chaotic campaign to present himself as humanity’s saviour.
The film’s reception has been rough, with a 53% Rotten Tomatoes score and ticket sales reportedly dropping 60% in its second weekend.
A source close to the actor told Heat magazine that Cruise was “beside himself” over the disappointing performance, adding: “Tom poured everything he had into Digger and genuinely believed people would love it, so he’s totally stunned by the numbers.”
The insider also claimed he is still hoping for Academy recognition, despite the film’s commercial struggles.
“He still believes in the film passionately, and he’s still holding out hope he’ll get recognised by the Academy and be in with a chance of winning an Oscar,” the source said.
The setback follows Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which also reportedly fell short of its enormous financial targets.
Away from the box office, the source pointed to personal disappointments, including Cruise’s reported split from Ana de Armas and his long-standing estrangement from daughter Suri.
Read More: Tom Cruise defends ‘Digger’ after box office flop
Still, the actor has other projects in development, including Deeper, which remains on hold.
