Tom Cruise film Digger pulled from Hong Kong cinemas ahead of National Day release, censors tight-lipped

Tom Cruise's satirical black comedy, Digger, has been abruptly pulled from Hong Kong and Macau cinemas just days before its scheduled National Day premiere. The film, which follows a wealthy tycoon causing chaos to prove his savior role, was set to open on October 1st. However, theatre listings and promotional materials vanished prior to the release.

Local media speculated that "sensitive dialogue" led to the film's sudden removal. Hong Kong's Film Censorship Office, OFNAA, processes movie censorship applications and typically approves films for local release. When questioned about Digger's sudden withdrawal and OFNAA's role, a spokesperson stated they would not comment on individual films.

A source familiar with the film revealed that it includes a scene in which a character discusses the possibility of a nuclear attack on China and describes the country's population as "yellow" and "a cancer." Despite being set in Hong Kong and China, the film does not focus on either location. Following its release in North American theaters, Digger grossed a modest US$8 million in its opening weekend.

The film received poor reviews, adding to the reasons behind its quick removal from Hong Kong and Macau screens. In October 2021, Hong Kong amended the Film Censorship Ordinance to include national security clauses, leading to more than 50 films being edited or banned due to national security concerns. The new legislation, enacted more than a year after the Beijing-imposed national security law, bars the Board of Review from reconsidering decisions made on national security grounds.