Warner Bros. to lose $250 million on “Coyote vs. Acme”

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “The Digger,” starring Tom Cruise, is shaping up to be one of the most significant financial catastrophes in recent cinema history. According to reports from TheWrap, Warner Bros. is projected to incur losses totaling approximately $250 million, even after accounting for potential ancillary revenue streams.

The film suffered a dismal domestic opening of just $8 million, with global earnings reaching a meager $21 million over its debut weekend. Insiders suggest that “The Digger” will likely finish its theatrical run with a worldwide gross of no more than $40 million. This performance is particularly devastating given the production budget, which sits between $163 million and $173 million, paired with an additional $100 million in marketing expenditures—much of which was funneled into an extensive global promotional tour featuring Cruise.

The situation is especially taxing for Warner Bros., as the studio bore the full financial burden of the production. Initially, the film was viewed as a marquee investment; it was intended to serve as the flagship project of Cruise’s new strategic partnership with the studio, and the collaboration with an Academy Award-winning visionary like Iñárritu appeared to be a surefire recipe for success. Ultimately, however, the gamble on casting Cruise in such an atypical role failed to resonate with audiences.

Source: Film.ru