Anne Hathaway's Verity Dominates Box Office While Tom Cruise's Digger Bombs in Historic Contrast

Anne Hathaway delivered another box office hit as the psychological thriller "Verity" topped the North American box office with a $32.6 million opening weekend, while Tom Cruise's satirical black comedy "Digger" struggled to a disappointing $8 million debut from 3,300 theaters.

The Amazon MGM Studios release "Verity," based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, exceeded industry expectations and solidified Hathaway's status as the box office queen of 2026. The film stars Hathaway alongside Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett in director Michael Showalter's adaptation of the erotic thriller.

The stark contrast between the two star-driven vehicles highlights the unpredictable nature of theatrical releases. While Verity capitalized on Hoover's massive fanbase and strong marketing, Digger opened well below Warner Bros.' projections and represents one of Cruise's worst openings in years.

Verity's success continues the commercial viability of Colleen Hoover adaptations, though it fell short of "It Ends with Us," which opened to $50 million domestically earlier this year. Two other Hoover adaptations, "Reminders of Him" and "Regretting You," both grossed around $90 million worldwide.

The film is tracking well toward recouping its $40 million production budget, with strong word-of-mouth and positive audience scores suggesting solid legs in the coming weeks. Box Office Pro forecasts the thriller will hold in the $15-20 million range in its second weekend.

For Warner Bros., Digger continues a troubling 2026 trend of box office underperformance. The studio has struggled with multiple flops this year, including "The Bride" and "Supergirl," raising questions about the studio's theatrical strategy and marketing effectiveness.

Tom Cruise, known for generating consistent box office returns throughout his decades-long career, faced rare commercial rejection with the satirical comedy. Industry insiders described the $8 million opening as delivering Cruise's lowest debut in 19 years, marking a significant departure from his typical performance.

Before the weekend results were announced, Cruise issued a statement expressing pride in the creative team's work but declined to address projections. "He said he is proud of what the team created," according to industry reports, though he notably avoided discussing box office expectations.

Anne Hathaway's 2026 box office dominance extends beyond Verity. Her work this year has contributed to more than $2.5 billion in global theatrical grosses, with multiple films performing well throughout the year. The actress has emerged as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.

The Verity opening demonstrates the continued commercial appeal of book-to-film adaptations targeted at female audiences. Hoover's novels have built a devoted readership, and studios have successfully translated that fanbase into theatrical attendance despite competition from streaming platforms.

Dakota Johnson's involvement in Verity also proved beneficial, as the actress brings her own following from the "Fifty Shades" franchise. The combination of Hathaway's star power, Johnson's appeal, and Hoover's bestseller status created a marketing trifecta that resonated with target demographics.

Weekend box office results showed Verity commanding the top spot with ease, while Digger landed outside the top five in a crowded marketplace. The psychological thriller benefited from strategic release timing and an R-rating that matched the source material's tone.

For Cruise, the Digger disappointment may force recalibration of his project selection. The satirical comedy represented a departure from his action-heavy filmography, and audiences accustomed to seeing Cruise in high-octane thrillers may have been reluctant to follow him into unfamiliar territory.

Warner Bros. executives face mounting pressure after another theatrical misfire, with studio leadership evaluating marketing strategies and release patterns. The string of underperforming films in 2026 has raised concerns among investors about the studio's ability to compete in the current theatrical landscape.

Verity's strong performance provides Amazon MGM Studios with momentum heading into the holiday season, while Digger's struggles leave Warner Bros. searching for answers. The weekend's results underscore the importance of matching star power with appropriate material and connecting with the right audience.