Verity eyes $35 million debut as Tom Cruise's Digger faces box office bomb
Anne Hathaway is poised for another box office win as the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 'Verity' heads for a strong opening. Per Variety, the Amazon MGM release is projected to earn between $30 million and $35 million domestically this weekend from 3,510 theaters.
That would make it Hathaway's third number one opening this year, following 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' and 'The Odyssey'. The movie, directed by Michael Showalter, stars Hathaway alongside Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett in a story about a novelist injured in a car accident.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros.' 'Digger' is facing a disastrous start. The Hollywood Reporter notes the Tom Cruise-led environmental satire is tracking for a meager $12 million to $15 million domestic opening. The outlet reports the film's budget, initially $125 million, allegedly ballooned to as much as $180 million, a figure a studio spokesperson disputes.
Given its reported costs, box office analysts say 'Digger' would require a much larger opening weekend to have a chance at profitability. The film stars Cruise as an oil tycoon whose actions cause a catastrophe and has reportedly drawn negative reviews.
The weekend presents a stark contrast: a modestly budgeted bestseller adaptation is set to easily top a costly, star-driven awards play.
