“Digger” plunges viewers into an apocalyptic satire, drawing comparisons to Stanley Kubrick's classic “Dr. Strangelove.” Tom Cruise sheds his typical action hero persona to portray Digger Rockwell, an extravagant oil baron whose relentless drilling in Greenland triggers a catastrophic chain of events. His actions lead to a massive methane gas expulsion and the dislodging of an ice shelf, hurtling towards Europe with the potential to unleash a cataclysmic tsunami. The film, co-written by Iñárritu with Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone, and Sabina Berman, also features a significant, early twist that promises to upend its entire narrative.

Cruise, 64, who received an Honorary Academy Award last year but has yet to win a competitive Oscar despite four nominations, is reportedly on the campaign trail for “Digger.” His transformation into the oblivious tycoon involves extensive prosthetic work, which the actor reportedly streamlined from a six-hour application to just one. The supporting cast includes Riz Ahmed as a scientist, Sandra Hüller as Digger's half-sister and business partner, John Goodman as a dictatorial U.S. president, Michael Stuhlbarg as the vice president, and Jesse Plemons in a late-revealed mystery role.

The initial reactions, as compiled by IndieWire, paint a picture of extreme critical division. Some reviewers praised the film's sheer audacity and visual artistry. IndieWire's Anne Thompson called it “a brave and gorgeous art film,” suggesting it might resonate more with the Academy for its craft and acting than with mainstream audiences. Jim Hemphill went further, stating “Digger” not only showcases “Tom Cruise’s best performance since ‘Magnolia’,” but is also “one of the most visually inventive, conceptually audacious, and unpredictable studio movies ever made.” Critics widely lauded Cruise's commitment and Ahmed's performance, highlighting their “strong praise.”

However, others found Iñárritu's latest effort to be a “hollow misfire.” Ryan Lattanzio criticized it as “A self-indulgent miscalculation from end to end,” arguing that the director's attempts to reflect on his own art ultimately undermined it. Many found the satire to be “unfunny” and the film itself “a mess” or “generally unpleasant.” The consensus is that while Iñárritu and Cruise took “a massive swing,” the execution might not land for everyone, with Variety's Clayton Davis noting, “the divide on this one is going to be wide.”

Behind the camera, Iñárritu reunited with his trusted cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, known for his visually stunning work. Oscar-winning production designer Dennis Gassner contributed to the film's “intentionally dreary yet meticulously rendered end-times vibe.” With a reported budget of at least $125 million, and significant marketing and awards campaign costs, “Digger” will need to gross over $300 million worldwide to break even, adding a substantial financial stake to its artistic gamble.

Film enthusiasts can experience this polarizing spectacle when “Digger” opens wide in theaters, including IMAX and VistaVision locations, on October 2. Whether it becomes an Oscar darling or a noble failure remains to be seen, but it's clear “Digger” is poised to be one of the year's most talked-about films.