John Goodman has addressed the critical and commercial failure of “Digger,” saying negative coverage before its release effectively damaged the film before audiences had a chance to see it. Speaking on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, the actor said the headlines surrounding the movie gave people a reason to avoid it.
“Digger” reportedly cost more than $160 million to produce and opened with $15 million domestically. After a month in theaters, it had not reached $50 million worldwide. The film received a divided critical response, with a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and was estimated to need approximately $350 million at the box office to break even.
Goodman said he remains proud of the film, describing the production as a rewarding six-month experience and calling it an ambitious project that could remain relevant over time. He also acknowledged that criticism still affects him, explaining that he had invested a great deal in the movie and found the reaction painful.
The actor added that several of his films with the Coen Brothers initially struggled commercially but continued to find an audience, citing “Barton Fink” and “The Big Lebowski” as examples. “Digger” was directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and stars Tom Cruise as an oil tycoon confronting a global catastrophe after an accident involving one of his rigs in Antarctica. Goodman plays the U.S. president.
The film’s disappointing theatrical run prompted public support from several celebrities. Neil Young called it the best film he had seen, while Mandy Patinkin described it as an instant classic. Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda and Ben Affleck were among others who praised the movie.
In a separate appearance on the same podcast, Affleck criticized the focus on the film’s financial losses and argued that movies need to be allowed to take creative risks, even when those risks do not succeed commercially.
Sources: Variety.