Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Ad Sparks Backlash Over Global vs. U.S. Critic Divide

Tom Cruise's new film Digger sparks controversy after ad highlights global praise versus U.S. criticism.

October 5, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — City, Country — A deleted online advertisement for Tom Cruise’s latest film, Digger, has ignited debate over how the movie was received by critics in the United States compared to international audiences.

The black comedy, directed by Alejandro Iñárritu and starring Cruise as an oil magnate, underperformed at the box office, grossing just $8 million in the U.S. despite a reported $180 million production budget. The ad, which was later removed from social media, appeared to contrast negative American reviews with positive ones from abroad.

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One version of the ad featured a scene where Cruise’s character, Digger Rockwell, says, “America has stood beside the world in its darkest of hours,” prompting Riz Ahmed’s character to respond, “Not anymore.” It then displayed a series of review excerpts, each labeled with the critic’s nationality, including a glowing Mexican YouTuber review and a scathing New York Post critique. Fans reacted strongly before the ad was taken down, with some accusing Warner Bros. of implying that American audiences were too critical.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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