Written By | Entertainment Desk
'Verity' and 'Digger' open head to head this weekend, a fascinating test of what audiences want from two of Hollywood's most recognizable stars.
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LOS ANGELES
Hollywood rarely stages a showdown this neatly. On one side, Anne Hathaway, fresh off a year in which she headlined two enormous hits, steps into an R-rated psychological thriller. On the other, Tom Cruise trades action-hero credentials for a flamboyant, satirical turn in an art-house swing from a four-time Oscar winner. Both films opened Friday, and the weekend box office will tell us a great deal about what audiences are willing to pay for in the fall of 2026.
The Thriller: 'Verity'
Amazon MGM's 'Verity' is the fourth big-screen adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel, and the first to lean into dread rather than romance. Directed by Michael Showalter, it stars Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett. The plot sets the tone: a man hires a writer to complete his wife's bestselling book series after she is injured in a car accident, and secrets begin to surface.
Tracking points to a solid debut. Boxoffice Pro's latest weekend preview projects an opening of $25 million to $35 million, up from earlier long-range estimates of $30 million to $40 million, and expects the film to lead the frame. The studio is reportedly counting on strong word of mouth and long legs. Critics have been less warm: the film sits at 46 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Hoover Question
Hoover adaptations have been unpredictable. 'It Ends with Us' opened to $50 million, while 'Reminders of Him' and 'Regretting You' each opened in the $13 million to $17 million range. 'Verity' is a darker, R-rated entry, so comparisons are imperfect. Analysts point to thrillers like 'The Girl on the Train' ($24.5 million opening) and 'The Housemaid' ($19 million) as more useful yardsticks.
What 'Verity' has that those films did not is Hathaway at the height of her box office power. Her recent run includes 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' which grossed about $693 million worldwide, and 'The Odyssey,' which has crossed $1.75 billion globally. A $30 million opening would be the second-biggest of her 2026 behind 'The Odyssey,' and a solid start for a film that does not depend on a franchise.
The Gamble: 'Digger'
Warner Bros.' 'Digger' is a very different proposition. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, it casts Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a billionaire oil tycoon whose drilling operation sparks an environmental catastrophe, after which he positions himself as the savior of humanity. It is a satirical black comedy with a supporting cast that includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlbarg, Emma D'Arcy and Sophie Wilde.
The film premiered September 22 at London's Royal Film Performance, attended by Prince William and Kate Middleton, and arrives in IMAX and other premium formats. It reportedly carries a budget north of $100 million, and its tracking has softened: from around $20 million to roughly $19 million, with some forecasters putting the opening below $20 million. That is a hard number for a film of this size.
A Divided Verdict
Reviews have been sharply split. Some critics have called it unpleasant and baffling; one dismissed it as a mess. Others see a bold, audacious studio film. IndieWire's Anne Thompson described it as "a brave and gorgeous art film that will not score with mainstream audiences," while critic Jim Hemphill called it one of the most visually inventive and unpredictable studio movies ever made. It sits around 52 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
There is a silver lining. Cruise's performance has drawn consistent praise, and he has described the role as "totally outrageous" and unlike anything he has done before. That could matter come awards season, even if the box office is soft.
The Race for Second
The weekend is crowded. Paramount's second-week survival film 'Heart of the Beast,' starring Brad Pitt, opened to $20 million and is tracking in the $8 million to $12 million range this time. A24's 'Primetime' with Robert Pattinson, which debuted at $19.19 million, and Sony's 'Resident Evil,' down 62 percent in its second week to $23 million, are also in that pack. Expect a tight fight for the second slot among four films.
Why Star Power Is Being Tested
Both films are, in different ways, referendums on the modern movie star. Hathaway's recent run suggests that a trusted lead can still move audiences across genres, from a sequel to a mythic epic to a thriller. Cruise, meanwhile, built his career on reliability, and 'Digger' asks whether that trust extends to a stranger, more satirical Cruise working with an arthouse auteur.
That is why the weekend feels bigger than the sum of its parts. If audiences show up for both, it suggests an appetite for variety. If one dominates and the other stumbles, studios will draw their own conclusions about which kinds of risks are worth taking.
What Comes Next
The long game matters as much as the opening. 'Verity' is the sort of title that can hold well if audiences recommend it, and its R-rated, twisty premise is built for conversation. 'Digger' will rely on premium-format screens, awards chatter and Cruise's profile to find its audience over the coming weeks.
Either way, the next few days of grosses and exit polls will shape how both films are discussed through the rest of the fall movie season.
What This Means for You
If you are planning a movie night, the two films offer a clear choice. 'Verity' is the crowd-pleasing, page-turning thriller, built for a group outing and the post-film debate over its twists. 'Digger' is the one to see if you want to be challenged, or if you simply want to watch Cruise do something unexpected on an IMAX screen.
For the industry, the weekend is a useful barometer. A Hathaway-led thriller overperforming would reinforce the appeal of mid-budget star vehicles; a stumble for a $100 million-plus art-house satire would feed the ongoing debate about how much risk studios can afford.
The Bottom Line
Final numbers arrive Sunday, and projections are only projections. But whatever the totals, this is a weekend that reflects where Hollywood is: two great stars, two very different bets, and an audience that gets to vote with its ticket.
"A brave and gorgeous art film that will not score with mainstream audiences." — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, on 'Digger'
