Digger Film: UK Release Date, Cast, Plot and Reviews

The new film Digger, starring Tom Cruise, arrives in UK cinemas this week amid intense public curiosity and sharply divided early reviews. Marking Cruise's first project with director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the high concept production combines black comedy, satire, and sweeping theatrical ambition.

Early critical reactions have sparked immediate debate across the film industry. With the release date here, UK moviegoers are preparing to decide for themselves. Here is everything you need to know about the cast, runtime, plot premise, and critical reception.

When is the Digger film released in UK cinemas?

The Digger film opens in UK cinemas on Friday 2 October 2026.

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (Warner Bros. UK), the movie receives an exclusive theatrical release across standard screens and premium format IMAX venues. As of 1 October 2026, Warner Bros. has not announced any official home streaming date, giving cinema auditoriums exclusive access to the feature during its initial launch window.

The UK release follows the film's royal debut on Tuesday 22 September 2026, when the Royal Film Performance world premiere took place in London with Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, in attendance.

What is the Digger film about?

Official studio materials from Warner Bros. describe Digger as a "comedy of catastrophic proportions."

Tom Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, "the most powerful man in the world," who launches a frantic mission to prove he is humanity's saviour before the disaster he has unleashed destroys everything. Multiple media outlets describe the central character as a powerful oil tycoon. Blending satire, dark comedy, and high stakes drama, the story operates as a broad critique of extreme wealth, unchecked power, and environmental hubris.

Official Premise: Tom Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell, a powerful figure embarking on a desperate quest to present himself as a savior before a disaster of his own making consumes the globe.

Who is in the cast of the Digger film?

Tom Cruise leads the feature as Digger Rockwell, anchoring an ensemble cast filled with award winning international actors.

The primary supporting cast includes:

• Riz Ahmed

• John Goodman

• Sandra Hüller

• Michael Stuhlbarg

• Jesse Plemons

• Sophie Wilde

• Emma D'Arcy

• Robert John Burke

• Burn Gorman

• Pip Torrens

Warner Bros. has kept character roles strictly under wraps leading up to the premiere. Beyond Cruise's confirmed role as Digger Rockwell, specific character assignments for the rest of the ensemble have not been detailed in official press summaries.

Who directed the Digger film?

Alejandro G. Iñárritu directed Digger, marking his first English language feature film since his Oscar winning 2015 survival drama The Revenant.

Iñárritu wrote the screenplay alongside Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Sabina Berman. Giacobone and Dinelaris previously co-wrote Birdman with Iñárritu. Warner Bros. classifies the project as an original film, based on a story crafted by Iñárritu and Berman.

Production took place entirely in the UK over roughly six months during the first half of 2025, with Legendary Pictures producing alongside Iñárritu, Mary Parent, Michael Sharp, and Tom Cruise. Industry publications list the film's reported budget at around $125 million. Behind the lens, the production reunited Iñárritu with three time Oscar winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, shot entirely in wide format VistaVision, alongside production designer Dennis Gassner, prosthetic makeup designer Kazu Hiro, and composer Cosmo Sheldrake.

Digger also represents Cruise's first completed feature since establishing a strategic development and production partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, marking their first collaboration together since 2014's Edge of Tomorrow.

How long is the Digger film?

The running time for Digger is 128 minutes, or two hours and 8 minutes.

The two hour duration allows the narrative to navigate its multi layered satirical set pieces and expansive visual sequences without stretching past the two and a half hour mark common to recent Hollywood blockbusters.

What do critics say about the Digger film?

Critical reactions to Digger have proven noticeably polarized.

As of 1 October 2026, the film's Rotten Tomatoes approval rating has hovered between 52% and 53%. Having debuted at a lower 41% initial opening, the current score rests below the site's 60% "fresh" benchmark. Industry commentators note that this marks Cruise's first "rotten" critical average since 2017's The Mummy, as well as the lowest rated feature of Iñárritu's directorial career.

Negative reviews focus on the movie's deliberate pacing, shifting tone, and heavy handed messaging. Writing for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw awarded the film two stars, calling it "an exasperatingly shallow, laborious, self-congratulatory satire". TheWrap compared the overall experience to a weak Saturday Night Live sketch that runs out of energy.

Conversely, positive notices praise Cruise's high energy commitment and the film's scope. Linda Marric of HeyUGuys wrote that it is "a better film than some people will claim." Screen Rant rated the movie 8 out of 10, while CBR awarded it a 9 out of 10, commending its audacious cinematic risk taking.

Is the Digger film based on a true story?

No, Digger is not based on a true story.

It is an entirely fictional original story conceived by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Sabina Berman. While the narrative draws heavily on real world contemporary issues, environmental crises, and corporate politics, the characters and specific plot events are invented.

Where can you watch the Digger film?

Moviegoers in the UK can watch Digger exclusively in cinemas starting Friday 2 October 2026.

Screenings are scheduled nationwide across major theater chains and independent venues, alongside large format presentations on IMAX screens. Viewers seeking home viewing must wait for Warner Bros. to announce digital purchase and streaming availability later in the season.