John Goodman says the wave of negative attention surrounding “Digger” before its release damaged the movie’s box office prospects before audiences had an opportunity to judge it for themselves.
Speaking on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Goodman reflected on the costly film’s critical and commercial struggles, arguing that pessimistic predictions became another reason for moviegoers to stay away.
“People are talking. It hurt. It kinda killed us before we even opened,” Goodman said. Recalling headlines predicting dismal ticket sales, he added: “It was good reason for people to avoid it.”
The numbers have been punishing. “Digger” cost more than $160 million to produce but earned only $15 million during its domestic opening. After one month in theaters, its worldwide total had not reached $50 million.
The movie reportedly needed an estimated $350 million in theatrical revenue to break even. It is expected to lose Warner Bros. around $250 million from its run in theaters, placing it among Hollywood’s most expensive studio failures.
Goodman Stands By the Movie
Despite that outcome, Goodman made clear that his own feelings about the project have not been defined by its financial performance. He described the production as a rewarding six-month experience and said he remains proud of taking part.
“I had a ball doing it,” he said. “It was a good six months out of my life. It is a huge swing. It’s going to be around for a long time.”
Goodman also acknowledged that reviews and audience reactions still affect him, even after his many years as a professional actor. Asked whether he cares what people think of his work, he answered candidly.
“Unfortunately I have to say that I am,” Goodman said. “I have to be very honest. I used to be less so. Maybe I am getting old and pathetic and it’s like, ‘Don’t hit me again!’ I put so much into this film and here you go. I am over it now. I am proud I did it.”
He placed the disappointment in the context of other films whose reputations outlasted their initial receptions. Goodman noted that his work with the Coen Brothers had initially struggled, yet people still approach him to discuss “Barton Fink” and “Big Lebowski.”
Inside “Digger”
Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, “Digger” stars Goodman opposite Tom Cruise. Cruise plays an oil tycoon confronting the possible end of the world after one of his rigs in Antarctica malfunctions, sending ice caps toward Europe. Goodman portrays the president of the United States.
The film sharply divided reviewers and holds a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its commercial collapse has also become part of the public conversation around the movie, something Goodman believes intensified the damage.
He is not the only prominent figure to push back against that narrative. Several Hollywood celebrities rallied around Cruise and “Digger” during its theatrical run.
Neil Young called it “the best film I have ever seen” in a post on his website. Mandy Patinkin described the movie as an “instant classic” and “one of the greatest pieces of film I have ever seen in my entire life.” Anne Hathaway and Jane Fonda also praised the film.
Ben Affleck, appearing separately on “Happy Sad Confused” last month, criticized the eagerness to celebrate the movie’s failure. He argued that focusing on its losses risked discouraging ambitious filmmaking.
“Everybody wants to celebrate this bomb as if it’s the most exciting thing to happen,” Affleck said. “If you punish movies that take risks, guess what you’re going to get? A bunch of shitty homogenized movies.”
Affleck added that making something interesting requires taking a major chance — and accepting that the result may sometimes leave the filmmakers looking bad.
ShowBiz Take
Goodman’s response shifts the discussion around “Digger” from raw box office figures to the potential impact of a movie’s reputation before opening. The film’s $15 million domestic debut and sub-$50 million worldwide total after a month make its commercial problems undeniable, but Goodman believes the public framing of the project helped shape that result.
His defense also echoes the support offered by Affleck and others: “Digger” may have been an extraordinarily expensive risk, but its backers see ambition in the same production that became a high-profile financial cautionary tale.
For Goodman, the immediate verdict is no longer the only one that matters. His comparison to “Barton Fink” and “Big Lebowski” underlines the point he is making now — a disappointing first reception does not necessarily determine how long audiences will continue talking about a film.