Box Office Flop

Tom Cruise Film Crashes Despite A-List Names

"Digger" landed with a thud despite its star power and prestigious director. Tom Cruise and Alejandro González Iñárritu—an Academy Award winner—could not overcome poor critical reception Variety. The $3.4 million Friday take from nearly 3,300 theaters signals audiences stayed away in droves.

The split between Warner Bros. and theater owners compounds the problem. Studios normally keep about 50% of opening weekend earnings. This arrangement suggests the studio expected trouble and negotiated accordingly Variety.

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'Verity' Takes Command With Strong $15.1 Million Friday

Amazon MGM's "Verity" surged to number one with $15.1 million on Friday from 3,510 theaters Variety. The film is tracking for a $33.6 million opening weekend, representing a 17% jump from last year's comparable openings Yahoo News. Starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, it clearly connected with audiences where "Digger" failed.

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Competition Heats Up for Second and Third Place

Paramount's "The Heart of the Beast" held steady in third place, earning $315 million and bringing its cumulative total to $38.39 million Variety. Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil" landed in second place with $362 million in total earnings so far Variety. Both films continue to grab audience attention as "Digger" implodes.

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