Ben Affleck Says Bullying of 'Digger' Only Pushes Studios Toward More Homogenized 'S-ty' Films: 'Don't Punish Films That Take Risks'

Ben Affleck has become the latest celebrity to weigh in amid the disastrous run of Tom Cruise's film 'Digger,' but he does so by warning moviegoers about exactly what the outcome will be.

Ben Affleck is the latest celebrity to sit in the midst of Tom Cruise's disastrous "Digger" screening, but he's doing so by warning moviegoers exactly what the outcome will be.

"It's a little bit like high school bullying, with people who haven't even seen the movie. You see it happening now, frankly, with 'Digger,'" Affleck said. Everyone wants to celebrate this bombshell like it's the most exciting thing ever. Popular in diversity-related stories Charlemagne God on mental health, social media and prioritizing real-life connection: 'You have to constantly weed your garden' Ice-T on Law & Order: SVU's Persistence and Cultural Impact: 'I'm good on the treadmill, and I want to'

He continued, "Everybody wants to count the money, whether it's lost or whatever. For me, I just think, if you punish movies that take risks, guess what you get? A bunch of crappy movies." "You can't do something cool without taking a big swing. And that means you're going to look bad sometimes."

Affleck has dealt with box office failures throughout his decades-long career. "Digging" directed by Alejandro J. Iñárritu, played by Cruz as an oil tycoon who faces the end of the world after the failure of one of his rigs in Antarctica, sending ice caps towards Europe. The film sharply divided critics (53% on Rotten Tomatoes) and has only earned $15 million at the domestic box office since its October 2 release. With a production budget of $160 million and a marketing budget of $100 million, "The Excavator" needs to make $350 million just to break even in theaters. The latest report from Variety suggests that "Digger" has lost Warner Bros. about $245 million, making it one of the studio's costliest flops in history.

Amid the film's disappointing box office opening, Hollywood celebrities and industry names have rallied around Cruise and the film. Neil Young recently posted on his website that "The Digger" is "the best movie I've ever seen."

"I don't think any of the reviews I've read adequately describe this film," Young wrote. "They seem to have missed the overall effect and most of them are negative. This movie lives in the art world. This is its own best review. Don't read any other reviews and forget this one before you see 'The Digger.' It can't be seen as a Tom Cruise movie - that's misleading. I'd describe it as a movie of our time... I wouldn't describe it as a movie of our time. 'The Digger' is a direct reflection of today's political and social world. It might be too much for those who expect a commercial film like we are used to."

Mandy Patinkin agrees with Young, as the "Homeland" star and Tony winner praised Cruise's latest film as an "instant classic" and "one of the best pieces of film I've ever seen in my entire life," adding, "It's an incredible piece of work. It brings the heart and soul back into the cinema. It's everything we all love about cinema. Please, please, please, run away! Don't walk, run and see this movie."

"I loved this brilliant film. "It's smart and confusing and aggressive and funny and ambitious," Hathaway wrote on Letterboxd. It's worth taking the time to decide for yourself what you see from it. for me 10/10.”

Watch Affleck's full interview on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast in the video below.