Things couldn’t be worse for Tom Cruise and “Digger.”
Over the weekend Warner Bros released a restored version of Ken Russell’s 1971 movie, “The Devils.” They put it in 360 theaters.
That’s half as many as “Digger” is still in after being stripped of most of its locations after two weeks.
The result? “The Devils” made almost twice as much as “Digger.”
Ain’t that a kick in the head?
Weekend take: “The Devils” $1.64 million, “Digger” $920 million.
It’s not a good look for Tom Cruise.
“Devils” is re-released from Warners’ new Clockwork division, their latest attempt at having an indie imprint. Russell’s movie is cult classic, set in 17th-century France. The film follows Father Urbain Grandier, a charismatic priest whose conflict with the church spirals into a nightmare of religious hysteria, political intrigue, and mass persecution.
Two great British actors, Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, are the stars. Reed died in 1991 at age 61. The great Redgrave is very much alive at 89, and lives either with or near her daughter, actress Joely Redgrave.
“Digger” is serving out a term in purgatory now as it drains from remaining theaters. It’s not the worst disaster of the moment. That distinction belongs to Sony’s ‘The Social Reckoning,” which has made just $8.2 million in 11 days.
