Melania Trump's documentary, "MELANIA," has outperformed Tom Cruise's latest film, "Digger," on a per-theater basis, prompting a senior adviser to the First Lady to publicly draw comparisons. Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to Melania Trump, posted a side-by-side analysis on Tuesday, contrasting the box office performance of the two films. This comparison followed "Digger," an environmental satire directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, experiencing a notably weak opening weekend despite a substantial budget and wide theatrical release.
"‘DIGGER’ has opened with $8M domestically on a projected budget of $160M-$180M.Biggest Hollywood box office bomb of 2026 & one of the biggest bombs of all time." DiscussingFilm, X post
"Digger" debuted in over 3,000 theaters across the United States. However, it managed to generate only $8 million domestically during its opening weekend. Globally, the film's debut grossed approximately $20 million. Industry observers have described this performance as one of the biggest box office disappointments in Tom Cruise's career. The film's production budget was reportedly at least $125 million, with some external estimates placing it closer to $150 million due to delays, including an injury sustained by co-star John Goodman. With marketing expenses reportedly nearing an additional $100 million, the potential financial losses for the project could be significant.
Audience and critical reception for "Digger" has been mixed. Moviegoers awarded the film a "C" CinemaScore, indicating a lukewarm response. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave "Digger" a 51% approval rating, while audiences rated it slightly higher at 72%. Tom Cruise's role in "Digger" also marked a notable departure from his more typical action-heavy performances. He portrayed a gray-haired older billionaire in an unusual satirical context, contrasting sharply with his established persona in franchises like "Mission: Impossible."
The unexpected success of "MELANIA" on a per-theater basis provided an opportunity for the First Lady's team to highlight its performance. Beckman pointed out that "MELANIA" opened in 1,543 fewer theaters than "Digger" but still managed to surpass Cruise's film by approximately 67% in per-theater earnings. The documentary ultimately accumulated $16.7 million overall during its theatrical run. Furthermore, it achieved the strongest opening weekend for a nonfiction film in a decade, according to available data.
While the documentary's theatrical performance exceeded expectations, its overall profitability remains a subject of discussion. Amazon reportedly acquired "MELANIA" for $40 million and allocated another $35 million for its marketing. Despite these substantial costs, the film's strong showing in theaters became a significant talking point for Melania Trump's team.
The comparison between the two films was particularly striking given Tom Cruise's status as one of Hollywood's most recognizable and bankable stars. His involvement, combined with director Iñárritu's critically acclaimed reputation and the film's large budget, had initially positioned "Digger" as a relatively safe commercial venture. Instead, the film struggled to resonate with a broad audience. Box office consultant David A. Gross characterized "Digger" as an "eccentric story" that failed to garner widespread interest.
Beyond the box office rivalry, the success of "MELANIA" has also had implications for its director, Brett Ratner. Ratner had largely stepped away from Hollywood following sexual misconduct allegations during the #MeToo era. Following the documentary's stronger-than-expected performance, he is now slated to direct another installment in the "Rush Hour" franchise, a series that President Donald Trump had publicly supported reviving.
It is worth noting that neither "Digger" nor "MELANIA" was the overall box office winner for the weekend in question. Amazon MGM's psychological thriller "Verity" opened with an estimated $33 million, driven primarily by female audiences drawn to the Colleen Hoover adaptation. Nevertheless, the headline-grabbing narrative centered on the unexpected comparison between a first lady's documentary and a major Hollywood star's film. For Melania Trump's team, the numbers provided grounds for public celebration, while for Tom Cruise, "Digger" represents a rare and costly setback in an otherwise highly successful career.
