Tom Cruise, popviewers.com
(Warner Bros.)Credit: (Ambito)

Tom Cruise is back with a bizarre comedy, totally uncharacteristic of his usual dramatic, action-packed antics. Known across decades for gravity-defying stunts, high-octane action, and blockbuster franchises, he just unveiled the trailer for Digger, a comedy that looks weirder and wilder than anything he’s done in years. The movie focuses on a man whose tool of choice is a shovel, and from the trailer alone, it’s clear this isn’t your typical Tom Cruise film project.

The reveal has fans buzzing because Digger is a genuine departure from Cruise’s norm. No fighter jets, explosions, or covert missions. Just a guy with a heavy-duty shovel and a sense of purpose that’s impossible to read at first glance. It’s strange, funny, and after so many years of Tom Cruise being synonymous with serious spectacle, there’s something refreshing about seeing him embrace this level of absurdity.

A Comedy That’s Hard to Explain but Easy to Watch

(Warner Bros. Pictures)

The Digger trailer dropped with little fanfare, but once people saw it, they couldn’t stop talking about it. Variety notes that the film blends oddball humor with character-driven moments. From bizarre encounters to seemingly mundane conversations about soil, it’s the kind of comedy that lives in quirky details.

In the trailer, Tom Cruise is introduced as a man on a mission, not with weapons, but with a shovel. He digs. A lot. He digs with purpose. He digs with confusion. He digs while other people look on, baffled. It’s less a high-concept premise and more a suggestion: expect the unexpected.

This isn’t a slapstick mess. It’s a peculiar, deadpan style of humor that invites the audience to sit with the weirdness and let it unfold. That alone sets it apart from most of what we see in wide theatrical releases.

Tom Cruise Isn’t Playing It Safe

(Paramount Pictures)

Put this alongside Cruise’s past roles and the contrast is night and day. He shaped his career on daredevil stunts in Mission: Impossible, tough adrenaline shots in Top Gun, and dramatic turns in movies like Collateral and Magnolia. Even when he ventured into comedies or lighter fare, there’s always been an edge, like a car chase, a gunfight, or a sprint through an airport.

Digger doesn’t look like any of that. It looks like Tom Cruise being willing to go somewhere unfamiliar, to let comedy breathe, and let his character find humor in absurd situations. IGN describes the trailer as surreal in a good way, grounding its strangeness with Cruise’s natural timing and charm. Luckily, it doesn’t focus too heavily on bizarre visuals.

This film shows an actor who has spent decades at the peak of blockbuster filmmaking. He’s still willing to challenge expectations and make choices that are unpredictable.

Early Fan Reactions Tell Their Own Story

After the trailer dropped, social media lit up. Many viewers said they laughed out loud, others say they weren’t sure what to think at first, and a good number agreed on one point—it was unlike anything Tom Cruise has starred in before. For some, it was a major draw. For others, it raised questions. Either way, it got potential audiences talking.

This isn’t the typical pre-release buzz fueled by action and explosions. It’s curiosity. People want to know how the movie balances hilarity with an odd premise and how Tom Cruise’s performance anchors all of it.

What to Watch For When Digger Arrives

The first trailer has laid the groundwork for a theatrical release on October 2, 2026. Audiences should look for the way humor emerges from silence, awkwardness, and the sheer ordinariness of doing something outlandish with complete seriousness. If you want big action, this may not be the right movie. But if you’re open to Tom Cruise delving into weirdness and pushing boundaries, Digger may be one of the most interesting films you see next year.