Digger Could Be The Movie That Finally Earns Tom Cruise His Best Actor Oscar

Published Oct 2, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT Brandon Zachary is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant's New Movie Team. He also writes or has written for Comicbook.com, CBR, That Hashtag Show, Just Watch, and TVBrittanyF. Brandon is an Emerging Screenwriters Semi-Finalist, co-writer of a Screencraft Quarter-Finalist, a seasoned on-screen interviewer, and a MASSIVE nerd. You can reach him at bs.zachary@gmail.com The following contains spoilers for DiggerDigger might be Tom Cruise's best chance at an Oscar, even if it's already running into some real challenges ahead of release. The Alejandro G. Iñárritu-helmed satire initially presents itself as a big broad comedy that pushes performers like Cruise to go as big as possible. It's a performance that only works because Cruise is willing and able to go so weird and wild with the character. It's also only half of the equation, as the character is really a feint for the secondary aspect of the character that allows Cruise to play a more grounded and realistic character. Coupled with Cruise's legacy, Digger could be the key to finally winning the actor an Academy Award. Even with the uphill battle facing the divisive release, Tom Cruise Gives A Two-Pronged Performance In Digger That Should Earn Award Attention Tom Cruise is doing a lot in Digger, matching the go-for-broke approach that is at the core of the surrounding film. Initially, he seems to be playing Digger Rockwell as a blowhard for the cheap seats, all theatrical execution and bombastic delivery. It's a fun over-the-top performance that requires plenty of comical mugging for the camera. What makes it a great performance is the little flashes of humanity that break through his exterior persona. Digger has these small flashes of horror and doubt, even a few sly asides that hint at a sense of self-awareness that he can't let out for much of the film. This gives way to the character's final stretch of the film, where he gives in to madness and becomes almost pitiful. It's a big swing from the filmmakers and the actor, which only becomes more interesting once it's revealed that "Digger" is actually a fictional character played by Curtis Markson, an actor in the universe of the film. Digger is an infamous figure in the world decades later, with "Fossil Fools" serving as a broad satire poking fun at the man. Curtis is shown to be a far more grounded person, who is struggling with finding the humanity to the character amid the broad comedy of the role. All of this is only complicated further by Markson's concern for his daughter, who has gone missing in the middle of a hurricane. It's a performance that at times feels almost autobiographical, especially once Cruise debates the director about the production. It's all grounded by little flashes of humanity, like his attempts to psyche himself up for a scene or becoming disarmed by Kenny's help in finding his daughter. Both characters are radically different and speak to differing aspects of the movie's thematic purpose, highlighting the more general satire of the film as well as the vehicle for the movie to discuss how we handle legacies of problematic figures. Tom Cruise's Legacy Might Help Digger Win Some Oscar Gold Tom Cruise is one of the last remaining megastars as it once existed, with the kind of enduring clout in the industry that few can only ever dream of. Despite earning rave reviews across his career for his more challenging performances, Cruise has never actually won an Oscar for his acting. Cruise has been nominated twice for Best Actor and once for Best Supporting Actor, along with a nod for his work as a major producer on Top Gun: Maverick. Despite this, Cruise has only one Oscar to his name at the time of writing -- an Academy Honorary Award he received at the 98th Academy Awards. The actor has largely spent the 21st century in the action genre, with fewer dramatic turns compared to things like the Mission: Impossible franchise. However, given his legacy in the industry and impact on pop culture, Cruise could be seen as one of those performers who is overdue for award recognition. It's been a useful strategy in the past in Oscar campaigns, helping build momentum. Tom Cruise Films Nominated For Academy Awards Year of Release Academy Award Category Born on the Fourth of July 1989 Best Actor Jerry Maguire 1996 Best Actor Magnolia 1999 Best Supporting Actor Top Gun: Maverick 2022 Best Picture The biggest complications ahead of Cruise's chances for award season recognition for Digger is definitely the mixed reception the film has received from critics and an unsure reaction from audiences. The film has proven divisive with critics, with a stark 54% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes at time of writing. Notably, critics seem genuinely torn on the movie instead of just being overall lukewarm. That means there's a chance that the champions for the film are able to help generate some momentum for it, while also leaving the chance that enough tastemakers found it tough to swallow and tougher to endorse. There's also the audience, who may be turned off by that mixed reception, the broad material, and the meta elements. Digger is currently tracking for a rough opening weekend, although it's possible that the newfound infamy might actually work in the film's favor. Ads are already being released that highlight the divisive reaction, which could entice curious audiences. Cruise's star power has also endeared him to international markets, so a stronger global reception could help salvage opening weekend blues. Digger has an uphill battle to win any Oscar gold, but Cruise's legacy might give him the win. Other factors, like the duality of the performance and the focus on entertainment (a common soft spot for Oscar voters) could give him the edge he needs to stay in the race. Even if he doesn't get a nomination, though, Cruise gives it his all in Digger and delivers one of his best turns in years. Digger Release Date October 2, 2026 Runtime 128 minutes Director Alejandro González Iñárritu Writers Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone Cast