Press split over Cruise's Digger after first screening

First press reactions to Tom Cruise's Digger split sharply after its press unveiling, reported by Variety on 22 September 2026. Descriptions ranged from "baffling" to "unpleasant" to "fascinating stuff", according to Variety. IndieWire's Jim Hemphill called it Cruise's best performance since "Magnolia", according to Variety.