Digger (2026) is a wildly ambitious, deeply polarizing political satire that ranks as one of the most audacious cinematic gambles of the decade. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise in a shocking, career-defying turn, this maximalist film is a meta-theatrical ride that will either exhilarate or exhaust you.

The story opens as a high-stakes, big-budget environmental disaster thriller. Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a flamboyant, aging oil tycoon covering up an Arctic drilling collapse. However, Iñárritu completely pulls the rug out from under the audience, shifting the narrative into a brilliant, mid-movie meta-twist that reveals the entire crisis is actually an apocalyptic stage play being rehearsed by a cast of neurotic, melting-down actors.

What Works

Tom Cruise’s Performance: Stripped of his trademark action-star charisma, Cruise wears old-age makeup and a paunch to deliver a fearless, unglamorous performance that shifts seamlessly from a grotesque oil baron to a desperate, ego-driven stage actor.

Stunning Visuals: Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki uses captivating VistaVision to blend in the energy needed to convey the  sweeping scale of an Arctic catastrophe with claustrophobic, chaotic backstage energy.

Superb Ensemble: John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, and Riz Ahmed did quite the job with sharp humor and grounded emotion into the madness.

What Falls Short

Heavy-Handed Tone: At nearly 150 minutes, the film’s cynical, story inside of the story (which is somewhat similar to Inception (2010)) framing can feel less like a sharp satire and more like a pretentious lecture on climate apathy.

Narrative Overload: The script tries to literally mix big oil, political corruption, and Hollywood ego all at once, occasionally collapsing under its own massive budget and ambition.

Honestly, after seeing it, it’s worth the watch. Even though it may have its flaws, Tom Cruise’s performance in this movie was above expectations.