Guillermo del Toro just did what most filmmakers won’t – he went to bat for another director’s controversial film before it even hits theaters. And not with some diplomatic “everyone’s entitled to their opinion” nonsense. He called out critics directly.

The Tweet That Started It

Del Toro jumped on X (yeah, we’re still calling it that) to defend Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Digger,” Warner Bros.’ R-rated black comedy that drops Friday. He quote-tweeted what he called an “Entirely Petty headline” about the film and made his position crystal clear: “Love it or not. And yes, I do.”

Short. Direct. No wiggle room.

Here’s the thing – this isn’t just some casual industry back-patting. Del Toro’s got serious credibility (two Oscars will do that), and he’s using it to shield a film that apparently hasn’t been winning everyone over in early reviews. That’s actually kind of rare in Hollywood, where most directors stay diplomatically silent about their peers’ work unless it’s already a critical darling.

Why This Feels Different

Look, directors defend each other all the time. But usually it’s after the fact, when a movie’s been unfairly panned or misunderstood. Del Toro’s doing this ahead of release, which means he’s willing to tie his reputation to “Digger” before most people have even seen it.

That takes guts. Or conviction. Probably both.

The Iñárritu Factor

Alejandro G. Iñárritu isn’t exactly a struggling newcomer who needs rescuing. The guy directed “Birdman” and “The Revenant” – back-to-back Best Picture winners. He’s also known for making… let’s say divisive films. Some people think he’s a genius. Others find his work pretentious and exhausting. (I mean, “Bardo” basically split the entire film community in half.) Iñárritu isn't alone in that club – Why Tom Cruise's Worst-Rated Films Are His Best explores how critical consensus and actual artistic merit don't always line up.

So when del Toro says he loves “Digger,” he’s not just defending some scrappy indie. He’s backing a film from a director who already has plenty of detractors sharpening their knives.

What Critics Are Actually Saying

From what I can tell, the reviews for “Digger” have been… mixed at best. The “petty headline” del Toro referenced suggests at least some critics aren’t holding back. And honestly? That’s their job. The problem is when headlines go for cheap shots instead of actual criticism. The mixed reviews translated into brutal opening numbers – 'Digger' Bombs, 'Verity' Soars: Box Office Shocker tells the full story of that first weekend.

Del Toro didn’t specify which review set him off, but the fact that he felt compelled to respond tells you something. Either the criticism crossed a line from “I didn’t like this” into “let me dunk on this for clicks,” or del Toro genuinely believes people are missing what makes the film work.

“Love it or not. And yes, I do.”

That’s the line that sticks with me. He’s not saying “you have to love it” or “the critics are wrong.” He’s acknowledging that reasonable people can disagree – but he’s also planting his flag firmly in the “love it” camp. It’s subjective, but he’s not apologizing for his enthusiasm.

The Bigger Picture Here

What’s interesting is how this plays into the whole conversation about film criticism right now. Critics have less power than they used to (box office numbers prove that), but they can still shape the narrative around a film before it reaches audiences. A brutal headline can become the story, especially for smaller releases or anything remotely challenging.

Del Toro seems to be pushing back against that. He’s basically saying: see the movie yourself, make up your own mind, don’t let a snarky review decide for you.

And you know what? He’s probably right. “Digger” is a black comedy from a director known for ambitious, polarizing work. Of course some people are gonna hate it. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth seeing.

What This Actually Means

Del Toro’s defense might not change anyone’s mind about “Digger” – people who were gonna skip it will probably still skip it, and Iñárritu fans were already planning to see it opening weekend. But it does something else. It reminds us that filmmakers actually watch and care about each other’s work, even when it’s risky or uncomfortable.

It also raises a question we should probably think about more: when did film criticism become more about the headline than the actual analysis? Del Toro called out the pettiness, and honestly, he’s got a point. You can dislike a film without being dismissive of it. The best criticism engages with what a film is trying to do, even when it fails.

Will “Digger” be good? I have no idea. I haven’t seen it yet. But del Toro’s passionate defense makes me more curious than any marketing campaign could. And maybe that’s exactly what he intended.