John Goodman says critics 'killed' Tom Cruise satire Digger BEFORE it even opened and admits 'it hurt'

John Goodman, 74, has blamed scathing pre-release reviews for torpedoing Alejandro González Iñárritu's climate satire at the box office, telling the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast that negative headlines gave audiences 'good reason to avoid it'. The Iñárritu film, in which Goodman plays the US president opposite Cruise's billionaire oil tycoon, grossed just $15 million domestically on opening weekend before ticket sales collapsed 60 per cent in week two. Goodman insisted he remains proud, comparing Digger's fate to his Coen Brothers films, which also flopped on release before becoming classics.

Digger cost an estimated $160-170 million to make before marketing, but has taken under $50 million worldwide after a month in cinemas, making it one of Hollywood's biggest box office bombs.

Goodman admitted he still cares deeply what critics think: 'Maybe I am getting old and pathetic and it's like, don't hit me again.'

He found some comfort in a positive New Yorker review, and predicted Digger 'is going to be around for a long time' — pointing to 'Barton Fink' and 'The Big Lebowski' as proof flops can find second lives.