# Digger And Birdman Share Absurdist Comedy DNA

> Alejandro González Iñárritu's Digger and Birdman both explore actors' struggles with authenticity through absurdist comedy.
- Title: Digger And Birdman Share Absurdist Comedy DNA · ScreenRant
- Summary: Alejandro González Iñárritu's Digger and Birdman both explore actors' struggles with authenticity through absurdist comedy. Digger is Iñárritu's spiritual…
- Keywords: alejandro gonzalez inarritu, digger, birdman, comedy, drama, tom cruise, riz ahmed, theater, actor, performance, absurdist comedy, entertainment
- Source: ScreenRant — https://screenrant.com/diggers-birdman-compainion-piece
- Author: Brandon Zachary
- Published: 2026-10-04T16:01:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: alejandro gonzalez inarritu, digger, birdman, comedy, drama, tom cruise, riz ahmed, theater, actor, performance, absurdist comedy, entertainment
## Digger's Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu directed both Digger and Birdman, a comedy he's less known for.
## Digger's Actor
Tom Cruise plays Curtis Markson, an actor wrestling with making Digger feel real.
## Birdman's Actor
Michael Keaton's Riggan Thomson seeks to escape his legacy as an actor.
## Digger's Plot
Digger is an in-universe play mocking oilman hubris that ruins the world.
## Shared Themes
Both films critique actors' struggles with authenticity through absurdist comedy.
## Why They Pair
Digger and Birdman share a focus on actors' internal conflicts and the value of performance.
## Key takeaway

Digger is Iñárritu's spiritual successor to Birdman, both films critique acting and the world through absurdist comedy.