Tom Cruise is finally putting down the flight suit and picking up a script that doesn’t involve jumping off a cliff on a motorcycle. His new movie, Digger, is set to drop later this year, and it looks like the most "actor-y" thing he’s done since the turn of the millennium. If your kids know him as the invincible Ethan Hunt or Maverick, they’re about to meet a version of Tom Cruise that is much more interested in psychological warfare than high-altitude stunts.
TL;DR: Digger is an upcoming psychological thriller directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, starring Tom Cruise as a troubled billionaire. It’s a sharp pivot away from the PG-13 action of Top Gun: Maverick and toward the R-rated, intense character studies Cruise excelled at in the 90s. Expect heavy themes, complex morality, and a movie that is definitely for the older teens in the house rather than the elementary crowd.
For the last fifteen years, Tom Cruise has essentially been a one-man special effects department. He’s the guy who saves the world, does his own stunts, and maintains a level of "movie star" gloss that feels untouchable. Digger changes the math.
Based on the first trailer, Cruise is playing a high-stakes billionaire who seems to be unraveling. It’s being directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu—the guy behind The Revenant and Birdman—which tells you everything you need to know about the vibe. This won't be a breezy summer blockbuster. It’s going to be visually stunning, probably features a few extremely long, unbroken takes, and will almost certainly be "intense" in a way that doesn't involve explosions.
If you have a 10-year-old who thinks Tom Cruise is basically a real-life superhero, you might want to manage expectations before they see the poster for this.
- The Action: In Mission: Impossible, the stakes are physical. In Digger, the stakes look internal. The "action" here is likely to be verbal—sharp dialogue, power moves in boardrooms, and the kind of psychological tension that makes your skin crawl.
- The Heroism: Cruise usually plays a guy with a moral compass that points true north. In this film, he’s playing a billionaire "Digger" (the title likely refers to someone digging for truth, or perhaps just digging their own grave). From the early footage, he looks manipulative, isolated, and potentially villainous.
- The Rating: While a final rating hasn't been slapped on it yet, Iñárritu doesn't really do "family friendly." Expect an R rating for language and adult themes. This isn't a movie you take the whole family to on a Saturday afternoon; it’s the movie you watch with your 16-year-old who is starting to get into "prestige" cinema.
We talk a lot about "media literacy," but the best way to teach it is to show kids how an artist’s career evolves. If your teen is a fan of the Mission: Impossible series, Digger is a perfect opportunity to talk about "The Pivot."
Why would the biggest action star in the world choose to do a movie where he just talks in a room? Because he’s a craftsman. It’s a chance to look at Cruise’s older work, like Magnolia or Rain Man, and show them that "acting" isn't just about who can hold their breath underwater the longest.
If your teen is into business, tech, or the "billionaire aesthetic" that’s all over social media, this movie looks like it’s going to deconstruct that world. It’s a counter-narrative to the "alpha" influencer slop they might see on their feeds. It shows the isolation and the cost of that kind of power.
When the movie releases, the biggest point of confusion for younger fans will be seeing "Maverick" acting like a jerk. Use that.
- Ask them: "Why do you think an actor like Tom Cruise wants to play someone who isn't a hero?"
- Talk about the director: Iñárritu is known for making movies that feel like a fever dream. If they’ve seen The Revenant, they know he likes to put his actors through the wringer.
- Discuss the "Billionaire" trope: Between Succession and the real-world antics of tech moguls, kids are fascinated by the ultra-wealthy. Digger looks like it will ask: "What happens to your brain when you have more money than God?"
If Digger ends up being a hit with your older kids, they might be ready to explore the "Dark Cruise" back catalog or other prestige thrillers:
- Magnolia: This is Cruise’s best performance, period. He plays a toxic motivational speaker. It’s R-rated and heavy, but for a 17-year-old, it’s a masterclass.
- A Few Good Men: If they liked the verbal sparring in the Digger trailer, show them where Cruise learned to command a room with just his voice.
- Succession: For the teen who is fascinated by the "billionaire pivot," this show is the gold standard for watching powerful people be miserable.
- The Social Network: Another great "dark billionaire" origin story that feels very much in the same atmospheric neighborhood as what we're seeing from the Digger promos.
For a deeper dive into what else is coming to theaters, check out our best movies for kids list or see what’s hitting the streamers in our digital guide for middle school.
Q: Is Digger appropriate for kids?
Based on the director and the early trailers, no. It’s looking like a hard R or a very mature PG-13. This is a psychological thriller for adults and older teens, not a family action flick.
Q: Does Tom Cruise do his own stunts in Digger?
The "stunts" in this movie appear to be emotional rather than physical. While he might do some light running (it is a Tom Cruise movie, after all), the focus is on the acting and the dialogue.
Q: What age is Digger okay for?
It’s likely best for ages 15 and up. Younger kids will probably find the pacing slow and the themes of corporate greed and mental unraveling pretty boring compared to Top Gun: Maverick.
Q: Who else is in the movie?
John Goodman is set to co-star, which adds a lot of gravitas to the project. When you put Goodman and Cruise in a room together with an Oscar-winning director, you aren't looking for a popcorn movie; you're looking for awards.
Digger represents a massive shift for the world's biggest movie star. It’s the "serious" Tom Cruise returning to claim his throne. For parents, the move is to treat this as a "grown-up" movie that you might share with your older teens to talk about power, performance, and why the most interesting stories usually happen after the hero stops winning.
