Ben Affleck defends ‘pretty ambitious, interesting’ “Digger ”from people celebrating its financial failure
Ben Affleck defended the film 'Digger' against critics who are celebrating its poor box office performance. He argued that punishing ambitious, risky films discourages creativity in the industry.
Why it matters
It reflects the ongoing tension in Hollywood between financial viability and artistic risk-taking in cinema.
Ben Affleck in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2026; Tom Cruise in 'Digger' Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty; Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Key points Ben Affleck doesn't appreciate how Digger is being discussed.
"Everybody wants to celebrate this bomb as if it's the most exciting thing that happened," he said.
Affleck called the Tom Cruise film "a pretty ambitious, interesting movie made by people who have talent."
Ben Affleck doesn't want people to relish Digger 's demise.
The Animals star defended the climate crisis satire from those obsessing over its weak box office returns, arguing that we shouldn't "punish" interesting movies as a culture.
During a broader conversation about critical pile-ons in an interview with Happy Sad Confused , Affleck said, "You see it happening now, frankly, with Digger . Everybody wants to celebrate this bomb as if it's the most exciting thing that happened."
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