A satirical black comedy starring Tom Cruise has been withdrawn from Hong Kong and Macau cinemas at the last minute.

Digger, starring Tom Cruise. Photo: Digger.

Digger was set to open last Thursday – on China’s National Day – but theatre listings and promotional materials disappeared shortly before. It had not been scheduled for release in mainland China.

Local media suggested that “sensitive dialogue” had led to it being scrapped from local release.

Hong Kong’s Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (OFNAA) reviews and rates movies set for release in Hong Kong, and would have initially approved the film’s launch across the territory.

When asked by HKFP whether it had stepped in to prevent Digger’s release, and why it had earlier approved the movie, a spokesperson on Monday did not directly answer.

“OFNAA has all along processed film censorship applications in accordance with the Film Censorship Ordinance (Cap. 392) and established mechanism. OFNAA would not comment on individual films or applications,” they said.

‘Sensitive dialogue’ Film spoilers below.

Former lawmaker Charles Mok wrote in a blog post on Saturday that the film was not about Hong Kong or China, though it included a scene in which a character discusses the possibility of a nuclear attack on the country.

The Great Hall. File photo: Lukas Messmer/HKFP.

An HKFP reader, who saw the film, also confirmed that a scene included a character describing China’s large population as “yellow” and a “cancer.”

Digger is a satire following a rich tycoon who causes chaos in an effort to prove he is humanity’s saviour. It grossed only US$8 million (HK$62.7 million) in North American theatres during its opening weekend, according to the New York Times. It has attracted poor reviews.

National security stipulations

As of last October, OFNAA required 50 films to be edited, with 13 titles banned on national security grounds, since Hong Kong amended the Film Censorship Ordinance in 2021. No list of problematic movies was supplied.

See also: Iron curtain falls on Hong Kong cinema as censors demand cuts

The Film Censorship Ordinance was amended in late October 2021 to include national security clauses, more than a year after the Beijing-imposed national security law came into effect.

Local film censors may ask for up to 28 days to review films that may involve national security considerations. Filmmakers may not challenge the censorship body’s decision, as the new legislation bars the Board of Review from reconsidering decisions made on national security grounds.

Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

In May 2024, two special screenings of a film directed by Kiwi Chow were axed by MCL Cinemas without giving any reason. The film, Beyond The Dream, was first shown publicly in 2020.

In June 2023, three films shown at the Fresh Wave International Film Festival faced orders from OFNAA to delete several sections. The filmmakers decided to replace the deleted parts with black images and muted sound.

Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.