‘Verity’ Projected to Dominate Box Office With $35M Debut as ‘Digger’ Stumbles

Colleen Hoover’s latest film adaptation, “Verity,” is on track to claim the top spot at the domestic box office this weekend, with projections indicating a debut of $30 million to $35 million from 3,510 theaters. The release marks Anne Hathaway’s third No. 1 film of the year, adding to her summer successes in “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and “The Odyssey.” In an unexpected twist for the season, the thriller will outperform the highly anticipated “Digger,” starring Tom Cruise.

Meanwhile, “Digger” is shaping up to be a significant commercial disappointment for Warner Bros. Despite its high-profile cast and director Alejandro González Iñárritu, the R-rated environmental satire is forecasted to gross only $12 million to $15 million from 3,300 screens. Industry analysts suggest the film, originally budgeted at $125 million, may have seen costs rise to between $160 million and $180 million due to production delays, though a studio spokesperson has disputed those higher figures. Experts note that a film of this scale typically requires an opening near $40 million to break even.

“Verity” continues the successful trend of adapting Hoover’s bestselling novels for the screen. Following the massive success of Sony’s “It Ends With Us” and recent releases “Regretting You” and “Reminders of Him,” the studio behind “Verity” is looking to rebound from summer’s “Masters of the Universe” flop. Produced on a modest $40 million budget, the project serves as a low-risk venture for Amazon MGM, which previously found theatrical success with “Project Hail Mary.””

The narrative of “Verity” follows a famous author, played by Hathaway, who suffers a car accident and is unable to complete her book series. A struggling writer, portrayed by Dakota Johnson, is hired by the author’s husband, played by Josh Hartnett, to finish the work. Directed by Michael Showalter, the film has received mixed critical reception. Variety’s Guy Lodge described the movie as a “listless” and “unintentionally funny tale.” In contrast, “Digger” has faced uniformly negative reviews, with critics labeling it “unpleasant” and “baffling.” Warner Bros. has leaned into the backlash with marketing campaigns urging audiences to “decide for yourself,” despite the poor word-of-mouth.

The underperformance of “Digger” adds to a challenging year for Warner Bros., following misfires like “The Bride!” and “Supergirl.” This stands in stark contrast to the studio’s 2025 slate, which featured hits such as “Sinners,” “A Minecraft Movie,” and “Weapons.” The timing is particularly difficult for the studio as Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. is set to close next week. For Amazon MGM, a successful opening for “Verity” would help stabilize its theatrical positioning as it prepares for future releases, including the heist thriller “How to Rob a Bank” and the documentary-style film “I Play Rocky.”