Ben Affleck warns that public criticism of Tom Cruise’s new film, ‘Digger,’—described by outlets as a box-office flop—could discourage studios from backing riskier projects. In comments reported by multiple outlets, Affleck argues that if audiences and critics “pile on” a “big swing” movie, the industry may respond by making safer, less distinctive films.
Across the coverage, Affleck frames the issue as a pattern: that punishing a film for underperforming can lead studios to avoid experimentation in future releases. The Hollywood Reporter, Washington Times, and Variety all recount Affleck’s warning that such dynamics would produce more “homogenized” movies that are “shitty” or inferior, while he positions the criticism as potentially unfair to movies that attempt something different.
