Digger

Digger is a 2026 satirical black comedy directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, starring Tom Cruise as an aging oil magnate whose drilling sets off an ecological disaster. Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons fill out the cast.

We watched it in the cinema last week. I went in a bit apprehensive because of the negative reviews, but what followed is another multi-layered piece of cinema genius by Iñárritu. It’s a beautiful movie, exceptionally written, and it’s unlike anything I’ve seen before on screen. I loved every minute of it.

I understand why it’s a flop from a financial perspective. It’s too complicated for the average moviegoer, and I suspect most people don’t even get past the first level of irony. The reality is that it’s a story told in multiple reveals, across several layers of reality. There is a reality of the stage, which lends itself to the reality of a theatre production, which then lends itself to the reality of the future world, with many details that get unfolded along the way. It’s delicious to watch.

Of course this is all made even more interesting by the fact that the movie is a very realistic near-term science fiction story that foretells the future we can expect as the impacts of global warming intensify. Then there is the political commentary it’s making on populist leaders and the current political climate in the United States. In short, I was extremely impressed, and I’m glad Digger exists despite being a probable financial flop. It’s meant to be a cult classic.