Tom Cruise Is Officially 4 Months Away From A Career-Altering Switch

2 weeks ago 15

Tom Cruise at the Rome premiere of Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning

Published Jun 2, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

Times are changing for Tom Cruise, as the movie star is nearing a release that could alter his entire career. For almost the entire 21st century, Cruise has been seen as one of Hollywood's biggest draws. With franchise hits in the Mission: Impossible sequels and great hopeful (but unfulfilled) franchise starters like Edge of Tomorrow, the proponent of the cinematic experience has remained a signature action star for audiences.

However, his reliance on action movie sequels has brought smaller returns. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning had a disappointing $571 million performance as it got a bit lost in the Barbenheimer phenomenon. Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning only performed slightly better, $598 million total, despite being marketed as the franchise's conclusion.

That's what makes Cruise's next movie, Digger, such a pivotal release for him. The Warner Bros. production directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu officially comes out in four months to the day, and it will finally see the action star venture into a different genre for the first time in years.

Digger Moves Tom Cruise Out Of His Action Comfort Zone

Cruise proved early in his career that he has the dramatic and comedic range to be much more than just an action star. But that is the lane he has mostly stayed in for the better part of the 21st century. When the Mission: Impossible sequels and newer IP plays were working well, it was difficult to critique that decision too much. But with them becoming less safe box office bets, Digger is Cruise's opportunity to stretch his wings.

It is his first non-action movie since 2012's Rock of Ages. It also marks the first time he's tackled a role that requires some physical transformation (beyond growing or cutting his hair) since 2008's Tropic Thunder. That title also happens to be the last time Cruise fully embraced comedy, which is relevant for Digger, as it has been described as a dark comedy. There are seemingly no action elements in play, giving Cruise a fresh challenge.

Leaving the action genre behind was a conscious decision by Cruise, too. He wanted to find something else to do after being tied up in Mission: Impossible and Top Gun sequels for so long. Pairing with a multi-Oscar-winning director for a dramatic, black comedy was his solution. It's why there has long been buzz that Cruise could receive Oscar consideration for his performance in Digger, which he hasn't received in over 25 years.

Digger's Performance Could Reshape Tom Cruise's Future

Tom Cruise standing on a railing in Digger

Cruise is certainly taking a risk by going beyond the genres that audiences have come to associate him with the most. That is why Digger isn't just notable for how it changes the current landscape of the actor's career but also because of what it could mean for what he does in the years to come.

Arguably, the best-case scenario for Cruise and Digger is that the movie is well-received, does good business at the box office to reaffirm his bankability, and becomes a staple of the 2027 Oscars conversations, including Cruise for Best Actor. If all of that happens, he could enter a new chapter of his career. He won't need action movies to stay popular. Cruise could shift to meatier roles and gun for more Oscar recognition.

Digger could also just not land in any or most of the ways that Cruise hopes. Should it wind up bombing at the box office and missing out on awards recognition, he will likely return to the comfort of action movies. Top Gun 3 is already happening, but Mission: Impossible 9, Edge of Tomorrow 2, and new action vehicles could all be on the way after.

That makes Digger a truly career-defining release for its star. It will either be a sign of what the rest of his movie roles could look like or a blip on the radar among more familiar genre spectacles. Either way, Tom Cruise's career will be altered in four months.