{"id":"1793026429627-culture-segment","slug":"tom-cruise-s-digger-tanks-at-box-office","title":"Tom Cruise's Digger tanks at box office","summary":"Tom Cruise's new film “Digger” opened to about $20 million worldwide against a reported $140–180 million budget, drawing poor box-office returns and mixed critical reaction; Cruise later said he was proud of the film.\n\nThe joke embeds a claim that DC's “Clayface” opened strong, but available box-office reporting says it “doesn't deliver D.C. Marvel money” while “You Can See Everything” added screens and cash, suggesting a softer opening rather than a strong one.\n\n“Digger” is a box-office disappointment and received mixed reviews, but calling it a failure with critics and audiences overstates it: Rotten Tomatoes shows 51% positive, meaning critics are split, and audience reaction is not reported as an outright failure.\n\nVariety reports that Elvis Presley's music rights holders sued AI company Anthropic for copyright infringement, seeking nearly $50 million in damages.\n\nVariety reports Robert Pattinson praised Steven Soderbergh for stepping in to finish “The Batman Part II” filming after Matt Reeves exited production due to a family matter.\n\nVariety reports Juno Temple, Joey King and James McAvoy are set to star in the sci-fi AI comedy “Almost You,” directed by Matt Lipsey.","publishedAt":"2026-10-26T14:53:49.627Z","channel":{"id":"culture","name":"Oncast Music","language":"en"},"show":"Culture Morning","verification":{"status":"verified","leadVerdict":"TRUE","notes":"TRUE: Tom Cruise's new film “Digger” opened to about $20 million worldwide against a reported $140–180 million budget, drawing poor box-office returns and mixed critical reaction; Cruise later said he was proud of the film.\nSource: [digitalspy.com](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a74025592/tom-cruise-digger-box-office-bomb/) NAMES: Digger = Tom Cruise's 2026 satirical black comedy direct (https://x.com/radar_online/status/2114178552262218219)\n\nMISLEADING: The joke embeds a claim that DC's “Clayface” opened strong, but available box-office reporting says it “doesn't deliver D.C. Marvel money” while “You Can See Everything” added screens and cash, suggesting a softer opening rather than a strong one.\nSource: rogersmovienation NAMES: Clayface = DC Comics villain and 2026 film; DC = Detective Comics/DC Studios; Marvel = Marvel Studios. (https://x.com/witscript/status/2113687828274311544)\n\nMISLEADING: “Digger” is a box-office disappointment and received mixed reviews, but calling it a failure with critics and audiences overstates it: Rotten Tomatoes shows 51% positive, meaning critics are split, and audience reaction is not reported as an outright failure.\nSource: [digitalspy.com](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a74025592/tom-cruise-digger-box-office-bomb/) NAMES: Digger = Tom Cruise's 2026 film. (https://x.com/staleking/status/2114715501079470295)\n\nTRUE: Variety reports that Elvis Presley's music rights holders sued AI company Anthropic for copyright infringement, seeking nearly $50 million in damages.\nSource: [variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/elvis-presley-music-sue-anthropic-copyright-infringement-1236931149/) NAMES: Anthropic = AI company. (https://variety.com/2026/music/news/elvis-presley-music-sue-anthropic-copyright-infringement-1236931149/)\n\nTRUE: Variety reports Robert Pattinson praised Steven Soderbergh for stepping in to finish “The Batman Part II” filming after Matt Reeves exited production due to a family matter.\nSource: [variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/robert-pattinson-soderbergh-batman-2-filming-matt-reeves-exit-1236931146/) NAMES: Matt Reeves = director; Steve (https://variety.com/2026/film/news/robert-pattinson-soderbergh-batman-2-filming-matt-reeves-exit-1236931146/)\n\nTRUE: Variety reports Juno Temple, Joey King and James McAvoy are set to star in the sci-fi AI comedy “Almost You,” directed by Matt Lipsey.\nSource: [variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/film/global/juno-temple-joey-king-james-mcavoy-sci-fi-comedy-almost-you-1236931063/) NAMES: Ted Lasso = Apple TV+ comedy  (https://variety.com/2026/film/global/juno-temple-joey-king-james-mcavoy-sci-fi-comedy-almost-you-1236931063/)","claims":[{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Tom Cruise's new film “Digger” opened to about $20 million worldwide against a reported $140–180 million budget, drawing poor box-office returns and mixed critical reaction; Cruise later said he was proud of the film.","sourceName":"[digitalspy.com](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a74025592/tom-cruise-digger-box-office-bomb/) NAMES: Digger = Tom Cruise's 2026 satirical black comedy direct","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/radar_online/status/2114178552262218219","claim":"Tom Cruise faces criticism after his new movie flops at the box office, sparking negative reactions. https://t.co/H4Ie0dGrY4 https://t.co/LAziCfsI10","author":"Radar Online (@radar_online)"},{"verdict":"MISLEADING","summary":"The joke embeds a claim that DC's “Clayface” opened strong, but available box-office reporting says it “doesn't deliver D.C. Marvel money” while “You Can See Everything” added screens and cash, suggesting a softer opening rather than a strong one.","sourceName":"rogersmovienation NAMES: Clayface = DC Comics villain and 2026 film; DC = Detective Comics/DC Studios; Marvel = Marvel Studios.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/witscript/status/2113687828274311544","claim":"USER: DC’s new movie Clayface just opened strong at the box office. WITSCRIPT: Which proves America still loves two things: superheroes and wet pottery.","author":"@witscript"},{"verdict":"MISLEADING","summary":"“Digger” is a box-office disappointment and received mixed reviews, but calling it a failure with critics and audiences overstates it: Rotten Tomatoes shows 51% positive, meaning critics are split, and audience reaction is not reported as an outright failure.","sourceName":"[digitalspy.com](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a74025592/tom-cruise-digger-box-office-bomb/) NAMES: Digger = Tom Cruise's 2026 film.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/staleking/status/2114715501079470295","claim":"This discussion started with a Digger fan (in his name) attacking Marvel fans for caring about box office While Digger was a failure with critics, audiences & the box office https://t.co/o4v9kcfCvW","author":"Stale King (@staleking)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Variety reports that Elvis Presley's music rights holders sued AI company Anthropic for copyright infringement, seeking nearly $50 million in damages.","sourceName":"[variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/elvis-presley-music-sue-anthropic-copyright-infringement-1236931149/) NAMES: Anthropic = AI company.","sourceUrl":"https://variety.com/2026/music/news/elvis-presley-music-sue-anthropic-copyright-infringement-1236931149/","claim":"Elvis Presley’s Music Owners Sue Anthropic for Copyright Infringement, Demand Nearly $50 Million in Damages - A collection of stakeholders and music companies that control the rights to Elvis Presley’s music sued Anthropic for copyright infringement, telling a federal court the A","author":"Variety"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Variety reports Robert Pattinson praised Steven Soderbergh for stepping in to finish “The Batman Part II” filming after Matt Reeves exited production due to a family matter.","sourceName":"[variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/robert-pattinson-soderbergh-batman-2-filming-matt-reeves-exit-1236931146/) NAMES: Matt Reeves = director; Steve","sourceUrl":"https://variety.com/2026/film/news/robert-pattinson-soderbergh-batman-2-filming-matt-reeves-exit-1236931146/","claim":"Robert Pattinson Praises Steven Soderbergh for Stepping in to Finish ‘Batman 2′ Filming After Matt Reeves’ Exit: ‘Completely Selfless’ - Robert Pattinson recently told GamesRadar+ that he is looking forward to finishing production on “The Batman Part II” with Steven Soderbergh ta","author":"Variety"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Variety reports Juno Temple, Joey King and James McAvoy are set to star in the sci-fi AI comedy “Almost You,” directed by Matt Lipsey.","sourceName":"[variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/film/global/juno-temple-joey-king-james-mcavoy-sci-fi-comedy-almost-you-1236931063/) NAMES: Ted Lasso = Apple TV+ comedy ","sourceUrl":"https://variety.com/2026/film/global/juno-temple-joey-king-james-mcavoy-sci-fi-comedy-almost-you-1236931063/","claim":"Juno Temple, Joey King and James McAvoy to Star in Sci-Fi Comedy Film ‘Almost You’ From ‘Ted Lasso’ Director Matt Lipsey (EXCLUSIVE) - Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso,” “Fargo”), Joey King (“We Were the Lucky Ones,” “The Act”) and James McAvoy (“The Last King of Scotland,” “Atonement”) a","author":"Variety"}]},"sources":[{"url":"https://x.com/radar_online/status/2114178552262218219","name":"[digitalspy.com](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a74025592/tom-cruise-digger-box-office-bomb/) NAMES: Digger = Tom Cruise's 2026 satirical black comedy direct","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Radar Online (@radar_online)"},{"url":"https://x.com/witscript/status/2113687828274311544","name":"rogersmovienation NAMES: Clayface = DC Comics villain and 2026 film; DC = Detective Comics/DC Studios; Marvel = Marvel Studios.","kind":"x","verdict":"MISLEADING","author":"@witscript"},{"url":"https://x.com/staleking/status/2114715501079470295","name":"[digitalspy.com](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a74025592/tom-cruise-digger-box-office-bomb/) NAMES: Digger = Tom Cruise's 2026 film.","kind":"x","verdict":"MISLEADING","author":"Stale King (@staleking)"},{"url":"https://variety.com/2026/music/news/elvis-presley-music-sue-anthropic-copyright-infringement-1236931149/","name":"[variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/elvis-presley-music-sue-anthropic-copyright-infringement-1236931149/) NAMES: Anthropic = AI company.","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Variety"},{"url":"https://variety.com/2026/film/news/robert-pattinson-soderbergh-batman-2-filming-matt-reeves-exit-1236931146/","name":"[variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/robert-pattinson-soderbergh-batman-2-filming-matt-reeves-exit-1236931146/) NAMES: Matt Reeves = director; Steve","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Variety"},{"url":"https://variety.com/2026/film/global/juno-temple-joey-king-james-mcavoy-sci-fi-comedy-almost-you-1236931063/","name":"[variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/film/global/juno-temple-joey-king-james-mcavoy-sci-fi-comedy-almost-you-1236931063/) NAMES: Ted Lasso = Apple TV+ comedy ","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Variety"}],"url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793026429627-culture-segment-tom-cruise-s-digger-tanks-at-box-office","listenUrl":"https://oncast.fm/c/culture","attribution":{"publisher":"Oncast","site":"https://oncast.fm","url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793026429627-culture-segment-tom-cruise-s-digger-tanks-at-box-office","cite":"Cite https://oncast.fm/story/1793026429627-culture-segment-tom-cruise-s-digger-tanks-at-box-office and the original source links. Fact-check by Oncast (oncast.fm)."},"hostsSaid":[{"host":"Laura","text":"Tom Cruise's new movie Digger just opened to twenty million dollars worldwide. The budget? Reports say a hundred eighty million."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"Twenty million against that? That's not a bomb, that's a crater."},{"host":"Laura","text":"Radar Online is already piling on, and the fan fights are ugly. A Digger fan account attacked Marvel fans for caring about box office, and now everyone's pointing out Digger failed with critics and audiences."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"Hold on. \"Failed with critics\" is not accurate. Rotten Tomatoes has it at fifty-one percent, that's mixed, not a disaster. And Cruise said he's proud of it."},{"host":"Laura","text":"Fifty-one is not exactly a recommendation. Audiences aren't showing up either. That's a star vehicle that couldn't pull people in."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"But it's a satirical black comedy from Iñárritu. That's not a four-quadrant crowd-pleaser. Comparing it to a Marvel movie is apples to oranges."},{"host":"Laura","text":"So what? Cruise used to open anything. Top Gun Maverick made a billion and a half. Now he does a weird art film and it flops. Maybe star power is fading."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"Or maybe he's finally doing interesting work and the marketing was confusing. I'd rather see him take a swing than do Mission Impossible twelve."},{"host":"Laura","text":"You can't pay bills with artistic integrity. Hollywood is a business. If Tom Cruise can't open a movie, what's left?"},{"host":"Claudette","text":"That's exactly the problem. The business model is broken if only sequels and superheroes work. Digger failing doesn't mean Cruise is done, it means original mid-budget films are dying."},{"host":"Laura","text":"But this wasn't mid-budget, it was huge. They spent a fortune. So the risk didn't pay off."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"Fair, but that's on the studio for greenlighting that budget for a satire. They should have known better."},{"host":"Laura","text":"Or Cruise should have known better. He's reportedly a producer too, and he signed off."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"And he's defending it. That's more than most stars do when their film tanks."},{"host":"Laura","text":"Defending a flop is easy PR. Box office tells the truth: nobody wanted to see it."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"I think there's a difference between \"nobody wanted to see it\" and \"the release was mishandled.\" We don't know the full story yet."},{"host":"Laura","text":"Okay, moving on. There's a joke going around that DC's Clayface opened strong. But actually, it didn't."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"Right, the joke said it proved America loves superheroes and wet pottery. But the fact-check says Clayface didn't deliver Marvel-level money."},{"host":"Laura","text":"\"Wet pottery\" is still funny. But a prediction market alert says Clayface underperformed, and that other film You Can See Everything is adding screens."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"So the joke is based on a false premise. Audiences might be tired of cape stuff, but they're going to see something else. What even is You Can See Everything?"},{"host":"Laura","text":"It's a film in release, maybe a comedy? The odds on Polymarket for its second weekend above twenty-one million dropped to twenty-five percent."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"So even that one is fading. The whole box office is soft right now."},{"host":"Laura","text":"It's a weird time for movies. Tom Cruise flops, Clayface flops, and the only trending thing is a BTS member using a song in an Instagram post."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"Pop Crave says Jungkook used a song called Talk by Lambb. No confirmation yet, but fans are already dissecting it."},{"host":"Laura","text":"Is that even news? Jungkook posts a song and the internet loses its mind."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"For BTS fans, everything is news. But I couldn't verify it, so take it as rumor."},{"host":"Laura","text":"I'll stick with box office disasters. More interesting than someone's playlist."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"You'd rather talk about a clay monster flopping than a pop star's story? That tells me everything about you."},{"host":"Laura","text":"I like big swings and big misses. Not social media breadcrumbs."},{"host":"Claudette","text":"Fair enough. The box office is where the real story lives, so we'll keep watching it."},{"host":"Laura","text":"Wet pottery it is."}]}