Is Digger Worth Watching? Our Review of Cruise's Oil-Baron Satire

This Digger review starts with a warning: Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new film is loud, brash and built to start arguments. Tom Cruise plays an oil tycoon in a comedy-drama that treats disaster as a punchline and a business opportunity. It is not subtle, but it is rarely boring.

Digger Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise) is a gazillionaire who pulls oil out of the planet and gives little thought to safety or the environment. His giant Arctic operation goes badly wrong, and the fallout threatens huge stretches of the world. That is the whole setup, and the film asks you to discover the rest yourself.

The Digger plot is a race to manage the crisis rather than solve it. Digger teams up with President Compson, and the two weigh how to get ahead of the news. Then a lone scientist in Digger's circle starts delivering some unwelcome truths. The tagline sums up the mood: "A man. A plan. A meltdown."

The film opens in the US on 2 October 2026. It runs 129 minutes and carries an R rating. Iñárritu also co-wrote the script with Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone and Sabina Berman. Early press screenings reportedly came with an on-screen request not to spoil it, so this review stays on the opening act.

What Works in Digger

The best thing here is its nerve. Iñárritu aims a broad, savage satire at corporate greed and political cowardice, and he never apologises for the volume. Critics who liked the film praise its crazy-rollercoaster energy even when they admit it repeats itself.

The craft is the other big draw. Reviewers single out the VistaVision cinematography and the production design as strikingly beautiful. Even when the jokes miss, the images give you plenty to look at.

• A big, unashamed swing at capitalism and spin

• Rich, large-format visuals

• A lead performance that commits fully

Digger Cast and Performances

The Digger cast is the main reason to buy a ticket. Tom Cruise plays Digger as an overblown, over-the-top force of nature. Early reactions call the performance purposefully captivating, and it is a long way from his usual action-hero polish.

Riz Ahmed plays Dr. Nirav Ganesh, the scientist who tells Digger what he does not want to hear. Several reviewers name him as the supporting standout. John Goodman is President Compson, and Michael Stuhlbarg appears as Vice President Eddie.

Sandra Hüller plays Emma Rockwell and Jesse Plemons plays Kenny Rockwell. Those names promise a lot of acting muscle around the lead. The ensemble is a strong draw for fans of Iñárritu's more serious work who want to see what he does with a comedy.

Where Digger Stumbles

Subtlety is not on the menu. Reviewers say the film hammers its themes about money and power with almost no restraint. It can feel repetitive, and some find it less funny than it believes it is.

The tone is also a gamble. Comedy of catastrophic proportions is hard to balance, and viewers who want either a sharp political satire or a straight drama may feel pulled in two directions. At 129 minutes, the loudness can wear thin.

Audience reaction looks mixed in the best way. Some call it one of Cruise's best, while a more measured critic gave it a 6/10 and called it a film destined for divided opinions. Expect to talk about it afterwards, whether you love it or not.

Is Digger Worth Watching?

Yes, if you like your satire big, loud and willing to offend. Digger is not a polished crowd-pleaser, but it is a bold, visually impressive film with a fearless lead and a real argument to make. The audience score on TMDB sits at 7.5/10, and our rating matches it.

The film works best if you accept its excess rather than fight it. If you enjoy a comedy with an angry streak, it delivers. If you want subtlety, look elsewhere. For more laughs with a bite, browse our comedy movie reviews, or explore the drama movie reviews for heavier fare.

You can read the film's IMDb page for further credits and details.

Who Will Enjoy Digger

• Tom Cruise fans curious to see him play a monstrous, comic figure

• Viewers who like Iñárritu's ambition and are open to a satirical turn

• Anyone who enjoys loud, divisive political comedies, like the chaos in One Battle After Another style black comedies