Tom Cruise Flops with "Digger": Impossible Missions, Yes. Audiences, No

Tom Cruise's dark comedy "Digger" took only around $8 million in North America on its opening weekend, landing in fifth place. According to AV Club, about $20 million more came in from overseas. Against that stands a reported production budget of around $160 million, with some estimates as high as $180 million. Industry reports call it Cruise's weakest opening in 19 years. Projected losses range from roughly $150 million to $250 million.

The timing is awkward: "Digger" was the last film Warner Bros. released before its takeover by Paramount Skydance. A parting gift with a returns policy, so to speak. And from the man long considered the last true movie star who can fill cinemas on his name alone.

Tom Cruise hangs off planes during take-off and jumps off cliffs. The stunt that finally beat him was called comedy.

Hollywood will draw sweeping strategic conclusions. Experience suggests the process starts with several executives explaining why the result nonetheless contains important positive signals. Audiences, meanwhile, showed very clearly that same weekend what they wanted to see: a thriller made for a quarter of the budget.