Directed by four-time Academy Award winner Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Iñárritu alongside Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Nicolás Giacobone, the satirical black comedy feature Digger made its world premiere in London on September 22, 2026, before heading to theaters and IMAX across North America on October 2, 2026. Distributed globally by Warner Bros. Pictures in partnership with Legendary Pictures, the film ran 138 minutes and was shot entirely on 35mm film in the rare VistaVision format. Mounted on a major production scale as Tom Cruise's first original non-franchise project in nearly a decade, the film bypassed traditional summer blockbuster windows for an autumn release. Pushed as a major awards contender, the film generated high box office interest behind its star-studded ensemble, eccentric marketing campaign, and unique satirical premise. WHERE TO WATCH & STREAMING AVAILABILITY Following its exclusive theatrical and IMAX run, Digger is slated to transition to transactional video-on-demand services—including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google TV, and Fandango at Home—for digital purchase and rental in 4K Ultra HD with HDR10, Dolby Vision, and spatial audio support. For subscription streaming, the film will premiere exclusively on Max in North America as part of Warner Bros. Pictures' theatrical distribution pipeline. Physical home media collector editions on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD will include behind-the-scenes documentaries on the VistaVision camera work, prosthetic makeup transformations, and audio commentaries with director Alejandro González Iñárritu. INTRIGUING FACTS & TRIVIA The project marks Tom Cruise's dramatic departure from traditional action stunts, featuring the actor in prosthetic makeup designed by Oscar winners Kazu Hiro and Alessandro Bertolazzi to play a potbellied, eccentric billionaire oil tycoon with a thick Southern accent. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu first conceived the core idea for the film immediately following the completion of his 2015 Oscar-winning film The Revenant, carrying the story concept for over ten years before casting Cruise. The film marks a major reunion between Iñárritu and three-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, who utilized custom Leitz Cine ELSIE lenses and VistaVision film cameras to capture the movie's distinct visual aesthetic. BACKSTORY & THEMATIC ANALYSIS The narrative follows Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise), a ridiculously wealthy, arrogant oil tycoon and self-proclaimed savior of humanity. After ignoring countless scientific warnings from his employees and business partner half-sister Emma (Sandra Hüller), Digger unintentionally triggers a catastrophic ecological disaster of global proportions. Facing public ruin and facing pressure from President Compson (John Goodman), Digger embarks on a frantic, absurd mission to literally dig humanity out of the apocalyptic crisis he created in the first place. Accompanied by a cynical government scientist named Ganesh (Riz Ahmed) and a colorful cast of eccentric political figures, Digger navigates a series of surreal, chaotic encounters across a crumbling landscape. As his grand plans repeatedly backfire, the story descends into a dark satire of modern hubris, unchecked corporate power, and human self-delusion. Thematically, Digger examines corporate negligence, late-stage capitalism, political dysfunction, and the absurdity of savior complexes in the face of environmental collapse. By framing a devastating disaster through the lens of a delusional billionaire who believes he can fix any problem with money and sheer willpower, the film satirizes how society enables powerful figures to escape accountability for their destructive actions. BEHIND-THE-SCENES INSIGHTS Director Alejandro González Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki shot principal photography across various locations in the United Kingdom and Pinewood Studios, relying on practical set builds and specialized vintage camera lenses to achieve a tactile, cinematic look. The score was developed to match the film's chaotic energy, blending dark orchestral motifs with jarring percussion to emphasize Digger Rockwell's escalating madness. Through its bold physical transformation by Tom Cruise, sharp satirical writing, and visionary direction, Digger delivers a wildly original and provocative entry in modern dark comedy cinema.