- Primary Subject: John Goodman's reaction to the critical and commercial reception of Digger
- Key Update: John Goodman admitted on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that the harsh early reviews hurt his feelings.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: November 3, 2026
- Quick Answer: John Goodman admitted that negative critical reviews for Digger hurt him personally and doomed its box office opening, though he remains proud of the film.
John Goodman admitted recently that he was hurt by the negative critical reviews of Digger.
The Emmy-winning veteran actor co-starred in the satirical dramedy film starring Tom Cruise, which received polarizing reactions from critics and ended up being a massive box-office flop. However, some fans have also defended the film online, and it is slowly gaining a cult following as more people are showing their appreciation.
Why John Goodman Was Hurt by Digger's Negative Reviews
In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, John Goodman opened up about the critical and box office failure of Digger.
He expressed his frustration over the reception that the film has received and admitted that he was hurt by the negative reviews. However, he emphasized that he had a wonderful time working on the project.
"People are talking. It hurt. It kinda killed us before we even opened. [The headlines were like]: ‘This will only make $5.’ It was good reason for people to avoid it," the actor said. "I am proud of it. I had a ball doing it. It was a good six months out of my life. It is a huge swing. It’s going to be around for a long time."
When asked whether he still cares about the critics' reviews, Goodman conceded that he is still affected by them after decades in his career.
He responded, "Unfortunately, I have to say that I am. I have to be very honest. I used to be less so. Maybe I am getting old and pathetic, and it’s like, ‘Don’t hit me again!’ I put so much into this film, and here you go. I am over it now. I am proud I did it."
Despite that, Goodman also emphasized that he has done films in the past that were flops in their initial release, and gained a strong following in the years after.
"Everything I have done for the Coen Brothers flopped initially... so who cares, man? I still have people coming up to me in the streets asking me about Barton Fink and The Big Lebowski," he added.
What Is Digger About?
Digger follows the most powerful man in the world who embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.
The cast includes Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons. Alejandro G. Iñárritu directed the film from a screenplay by Iñárritu, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone, and Sabina Berman, with a story by Berman, Iñárritu, and Jez Butterworth.
The film was shot using VistaVision cameras, giving it a distinctive visual style unlike that of many conventional theatrical releases.
There is no date set yet for its streaming release on HBO Max.
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