Verity Beat Tom Cruise's Digger at the Box Office, Despite a 34 Percent Score From Critics

The film was not a critical success. Yahoo Entertainment's review roundup found Hathaway the brightest spot in several reviews, with Mashable's Kristy Puchko calling her "regal and ruthless," while Variety's Guy Lodge dismissed the film as a "flat-footed dud." Gold Derby gave it a 34 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and a C+ CinemaScore. Because it reportedly cost $40 million to make, it is already set to turn a profit.

Digger's costly weekend

Digger, from the director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, took $12 million overseas for a $20 million global debut, against a budget reported at $160 million to $180 million, plus about $100 million in marketing, according to Gold Derby. Audiences gave it the same C+ CinemaScore. Variety had suggested it could open with around $12 million in North America, so it came in below even that.

The rest of the chart

Zach Cregger's Resident Evil reboot held second place with $12.5 million in its third weekend, which brings its total to $124.8 million domestically and $215 million worldwide on a $75 million budget. Heart of the Beast took third with $11 million, a drop of just 45 percent in its second week.

What it says about the audience

The result suggests that audiences, at least for now, will turn out for a recognisable book and a recognisable cast at a modest price, even when critics are lukewarm, and that a hugely expensive star vehicle needs more than a famous name. For Hathaway, whose year has included blockbusters and a run of five releases, Verity is the last of 2026's films. For Amazon MGM, the C+ will matter less than the profit. For Warner Bros., the attention now turns to the second weekend, where the true size of the hole will become clear.