Guillermo del Toro has publicly defended Digger, the new Tom Cruise-led film from Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, as the movie continues to divide critics following its theatrical release. The filmmaker took aim at a headline criticizing the movie and argued that its ambitious visual style deserves to be experienced on the big screen.
Digger stars Cruise as Digger Rockwell, an immensely powerful oil tycoon whose actions contribute to a catastrophic global disaster. The film marks Iñárritu’s return to an original English-language feature and gives Cruise one of his most unusual roles in years. It also reunites Iñárritu with acclaimed collaborators including cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.
The film officially opened in theaters on October 2, 2026, with Warner Bros. positioning it as a major theatrical experience. Despite its star power and acclaimed creative team, however, Digger has received sharply divided reactions from critics.
Guillermo del Toro Calls Out “Petty” Digger Headline
Del Toro shared his thoughts on X after IGN described the theatrical experience as unlikely to change viewers’ opinions about the film. The filmmaker responded by calling the headline “Entirely Petty” before making it clear that he personally enjoyed Iñárritu’s latest work.
“Love it or not. And, yes, I do,”
del Toro wrote, describing Digger as
“daring, bold and Cinematically complex.”
He also emphasized that the film delivers
“scale, ambition and reach at a theatrical screen level,”
ultimately calling it
“Decidedly a Theatrical experience.”
Del Toro continued defending the movie while discussing Warner Bros.’ history of backing controversial projects. He compared Digger with Ken Russell’s The Devils, arguing that films considered excessive or provocative can gain renewed appreciation over time.
He also suggested that Digger is not simply a climate-change movie, but a story about how narratives surrounding major issues can be manipulated.
Digger Continues to Divide Audiences
The debate surrounding Digger comes as the movie receives a highly mixed critical response. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the film at 54% from critics and 65% from audiences, illustrating the gap between professional reviews and viewers who have already seen it.
The movie has nevertheless earned praise for its scale, visual ambition and Cruise’s committed performance. Iñárritu has described the project as a dark comedy of catastrophic proportions, while the official synopsis centers on a powerful man attempting to prove himself humanity’s savior after causing a disaster.
Del Toro’s support is also notable because of his longstanding friendship with Iñárritu. The two filmmakers, alongside Alfonso Cuarón, have frequently been associated with the group known as Mexico’s “Three Amigos.”
With Digger now playing in theaters and IMAX, del Toro’s comments add another prominent voice to an increasingly heated conversation around one of 2026’s most unconventional Hollywood releases.
