--- title: "The Dog Stars" year: 2026 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-dog-stars" fi1m_id: "the-dog-stars" imdb_id: "tt21285562" tmdb_id: 1384216 wikidata_id: "Q132256832" fi1m_score: 58 critics_score: 55 critics_reviews: 15 published: "2026-09-14" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:23.169721+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Dog Stars (2026) Directed by Ridley Scott · 1h 59m · MPA R · Science Fiction, Thriller ## Identity The Dog Stars - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-dog-stars - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** the-dog-stars - **IMDb ID:** tt21285562 - **TMDB ID:** 1384216 - **Wikidata ID:** Q132256832 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21285562/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1384216, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132256832 **Fi1m score: 58** · Critics 55 from 15 reviews *In a sentence:* The end of the world apparently comes with time for sightseeing > Ridley Scott’s survival drama has warmth and some rewarding aerial photography, but its thin characters cannot sustain the leisurely pace. *The Dog Stars* is too uneven to recommend beyond those already drawn to quiet post-apocalyptic tales. ## Synopsis After civilisation collapses, Hig (Jacob Elordi) tries to keep going, with daily survival raising the question of how much trust people can place in one another. Flights across the landscape offer a view of what remains, while life on the ground brings the problem of finding company at the end of the world. Margaret Qualley plays Cima, Josh Brolin plays Bangley and Guy Pearce plays Pops, with Allison Janney as Darlene and Benedict Wong as Aaron. Ridley Scott directs this science-fiction thriller, adapted by Mark L. Smith from Peter Heller’s novel. ## Review Ridley Scott’s *The Dog Stars* is a survival film with a welcome interest in people being kind to one another, and too little curiosity about who those people are. It is worth taking that kindness seriously. Adapted by Mark L. Smith from Peter Heller’s novel, it tries to find room for companionship after the end of the world, rather than treating every encounter as another excuse for violence. The trouble is that its calmer stretches need characters who can sustain them. Jacob Elordi plays Hig with a subdued manner that suits a film reluctant to hurry. The difficulty is that his restraint becomes hard to distinguish from a lack of things to play. Josh Brolin’s Bangley offers a more forceful presence, and the contrast gives their shared passages some life. Margaret Qualley, as Cima, and Guy Pearce, as Pops, help make the company agreeable. Yet Smith’s screenplay gives this group too little individual character to make prolonged attention feel rewarding. Erik Messerschmidt’s cinematography is more persuasive, particularly when the film takes to the air. The flights allow us to look at the landscape without constantly searching it for the next threat, and that calm is a pleasure. Chris Seagers’s production design helps make the abandoned surroundings feel like somewhere people might still live. The film has a credible interest in the practical business of carrying on. Its attention to daily survival gives the hopeful tone some substance, even when the writing struggles to make the people distinctive. Editors Claire Simpson and Sam Restivo struggle to give these unhurried scenes a shape that holds our attention. Too often the pace slackens without allowing a relationship to deepen, and the bursts of bloody action interrupt rather than relieve the drift. Harry Gregson-Williams’s score cannot supply the tension missing from the scenes themselves. We grew restless during the stretches of day-to-day survival, because spending longer with Hig did not make us care more about him. Scott struggles with the shifts in tone, too. Allison Janney’s Darlene is played broadly enough to jar against the tentative companionship elsewhere. The problem is not that a survival story must remain solemn; some levity would be welcome. It is that the change feels imposed, and Smith’s convenient plotting adds to the sense that the people will behave however the next passage requires. The film sits most comfortably with the quieter end of survival fiction, where finding tolerable company can matter as much as avoiding a threat. That is a worthwhile place for Scott to work, and the hopeful tone keeps the familiar setting from becoming oppressive. More violence would do little to address the trouble. Smith needed to give the relationships enough substance to make these uneventful stretches worth our attention. At 119 minutes, *The Dog Stars* has time to make these survivors matter, but spends too much of it depending on our goodwill towards them. There is enough warmth and enough pleasure in the flying to make its shortcomings disappointing. For a tense evening, choose something else. *Fi1m score 58, published 14 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews are divided on The Dog Stars, with disappointment edging out enthusiasm for Ridley Scott’s subdued post-apocalyptic drama. Praise clusters around the landscape and aerial photography, while the more sympathetic critics welcome its attention to grief, compassion and the routines of survival. The cast also earns approval, particularly Jacob Elordi and the supporting ensemble, though several reviews find the actors working with characters too thinly written to sustain much interest. The chief divide concerns pace: what admirers find patient and tender, detractors find lethargic and short of incident. Reservations recur around familiar plotting, uncertain shifts between contemplation and violence, and effects that some find unconvincing. The spread is wide: Deadline praises Elordi, the character development and deliberate pacing, while The AV Club faults the performances, editing and narrative, despite finding something worth considering in the film’s treatment of community versus isolation. ## Straight answers **Is The Dog Stars worth watching?** *The Dog Stars* is only worth watching for those already fond of quiet post-apocalyptic stories, and we scored it 58. Ridley Scott's survival drama has real warmth and some rewarding aerial photography, but Mark L. Smith's screenplay gives its people too little character to sustain the leisurely pace. Anyone wanting a tense evening should choose something else. **How long is The Dog Stars, and what is it rated?** *The Dog Stars* runs 1h 59m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a science fiction and thriller film. **Where can I watch The Dog Stars in the US?** *The Dog Stars* is not on any streaming or rental service in the US at the moment. Availability is checked daily. **How violent or frightening is The Dog Stars, and is it suitable for children?** *The Dog Stars* carries a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children. The film is largely unhurried and gentle in tone, but it is interrupted by bursts of bloody action, and the setting is the aftermath of civilisation's collapse. Older teenagers used to survival thrillers will manage it; the squeamish should expect the violence, brief as it is, to be graphic. **How does The Dog Stars compare to Leave No Trace?** *The Dog Stars* is the weaker of the two films, and [*Leave No Trace*](https://film.one/film/leave-no-trace) is the one to choose. Both let shared routines and outdoor living reveal their people, but Debra Granik's father-and-daughter drama gives Thomasin McKenzie and Ben Foster small exchanges that matter, while Scott's survivors stay thin. Viewers who want spectacle and a post-apocalyptic setting are the only ones better served by *The Dog Stars*. **Is The Dog Stars based on a true story or a book?** *The Dog Stars* is based on a novel by Peter Heller, not on a true story, adapted for the screen by Mark L. Smith. The film keeps the book's interest in companionship after the end of the world rather than treating every encounter as an excuse for violence. Knowing the novel is not necessary to follow it. **What should I watch after The Dog Stars?** After *The Dog Stars*, try [*The Quiet Earth*](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-earth) (1985, Fi1m 78): For another lonely survivor whose need for company complicates staying alive. Then [*Leave No Trace*](https://film.one/film/leave-no-trace) (2018, Fi1m 88): Shared routines and outdoor living reveal more about people than speeches; and [*The Survivalist*](https://film.one/film/the-survivalist) (2015, Fi1m 77): Farming and mistrust become the basis for a much tighter thriller. ### Reviews we read (18) - **The Times** (80/100, inferred): At 88, Scott returns to sci-fi with a bonkers film starring Jacob Elordi that puts on a starry show and leaves viewers yearning for more. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/ridley-scott-the-dog-stars-review-return-to-sci-fi-will-leave-you-yearning-for-more-jm9fmbm53) - **Screen Daily** (70/100, inferred): One of Ridley Scott’s most muted and tender films, redeemed by careful attention to characters and their shared grief rather than action; wobbly in execution with predictable elements but offers understated warmth. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-dog-stars-review-jacob-elordi-and-margaret-qualley-navigate-the-apocalypse-in-muted-tender-ridley-scott-drama/5219711.article) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (70/100, inferred): The critic finds it a subdued but pleasingly soulful dystopian western, minor-key but arguably Scott's best since The Martian, an appealingly mellow watch. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-dog-stars-review-jacob-elordi-ridley-scott-1236680319/) - **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (3/5): The critic finds it a thoughtful rather than spectacular post-apocalyptic tale from Ridley Scott, praising the beautiful cinematography and performances but noting meandering pacing that dilutes tension. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/ridley-scott-the-dog-stars-review/) - **The Telegraph**, Tim Robey (3/5): Scott delivers an oddly blissful and watchable post-apocalyptic yarn focused on day-to-day survival and scenic flights, with a chummy lead quartet and some splattery action. It gestures toward hope but leans into carnage and convenient plotting. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/08/26/ridley-scott-the-dog-stars-film-review/) - **Time Out**, Simon Crook (3/5): Ridley Scott delivers a hopeful if bumpy post-collapse drama that is a surprisingly sensitive meditation on loss and compassion, but it stumbles with a cartoonish misstep involving Allison Janney that kills the mood. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-dog-stars-review-2026) - **Financial Times** (50/100, inferred): Jacob Elordi plods through Ridley Scott’s uneven vision of post-apocalyptic America, which combines fear of marauders with an ode to organic farming and scenic vistas. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/5e99155b-9596-4e04-9dae-4f728028f8fc) - **The AV Club**, Monica Castillo (D+): One of Scott's worst misfires and dullest movies, with bad special effects, janky editing, underdeveloped performances, and a messy narrative, though it has a thought-provoking thread on community versus isolation. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-dog-stars-review) - **Empire**, Helen O’Hara (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the film too downbeat and familiar to make a lasting impression, with a narrative that fails to match its visual strengths. They single out the glorious aerial photography and Scott’s energetic direction for praise while noting confusing tone shifts and a lack of originality. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-dog-stars/) - **Vulture** (40/100, inferred): The first half holds attention with its mood of hesitant survival and character contrasts, but the film feels fundamentally hollow overall, with functional rather than awe-inspiring visuals that lack the aestheticism of Scott's earlier work. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-the-dog-stars-and-ridley-scotts-broken-worlds.html) - **IndieWire**, Ryan Lattanzio (30/100, inferred): The film is a bizarrely inert post-apocalypse movie that Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin cannot save from near-disaster, curiously lacking in thrills. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-dog-stars-review-jacob-elordi-ridley-scott-movie-1235212620/) - **The Guardian** (30/100, inferred): The film is a limp and lethargic postapocalyptic survival tale that fails to find its footing amid overly familiar beats and a glum lack of energy. Scott appears disengaged, with stunning scenery undermined by insubstantial characters and janky effects. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/aug/25/the-dog-stars-ridley-scott-review) - **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson: Familiar to a fault, Ridley Scott’s postapocalyptic film finds the genre in need of new tricks and is hard to sit up and stay interested in. It is a lax adaptation whose best parts are its giddy, bloody action sequences. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-08-28/the-dog-stars-review-jacob-elordi-margaret-qualley-josh-brolin-guy-pearce-ridley-scott) - **The New York Times**, Jeannette Catsoulis: A terrific cast led by Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley struggles to lift Ridley Scott’s contemplative dystopia out of the doldrums. The film feels more romantic than thrilling, with heartfelt but familiar hokum elements. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/movies/the-dog-stars-review.html) - **Variety**, Guy Lodge: Ridley Scott’s low-energy latest is a dreary dystopian adventure in which even a charismatic quartet of actors muddles through trying circumstances. The film is surprisingly low-incident and lacks real characters to hold onto. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/the-dog-stars-review-jacob-elordi-1236839483/) - **Polygon**, Jake Kleinman (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film an enjoyable post-apocalyptic drama elevated by its visuals and a surprising third-act twist into something closer to an instant classic. They single out the cinematography capturing the beauty of the Rockies and abandoned landscapes for particular praise. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/the-dog-stars-review-ridley-scott/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (80/100, inferred): The critic praises Jacob Elordi’s performance as a hopeful survivor in Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller, highlighting strong character development and impressive action sequences alongside solid supporting turns from Josh Brolin and others. They single out the gorgeous cinematography and deliberate pacing as strengths in what feels like a classic Hollywood film. [Read](https://deadline.com/2026/08/the-dog-stars-review-jacob-elordi-ridley-scott-1237049569/) - **Digital Spy**, Ian Sandwell (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a post-apocalyptic bore hampered by a slow pace and an unengaging hero, despite some effective sequences and a good dog. They single out the familiar tropes and lack of momentum as major issues. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a73509754/dog-stars-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Ridley Scott - **Director:** Ridley Scott - **Screenplay:** Mark L. Smith - **Novel:** Peter Heller - **Cinematography:** Erik Messerschmidt - **Editor:** Claire Simpson, Sam Restivo - **Music:** Harry Gregson-Williams - **Production design:** Chris Seagers - **Costume design:** Janty Yates - **Producer:** Mark L. Smith, Cliff Roberts, Michael Pruss - **Cast:** Jacob Elordi as Hig; Margaret Qualley as Cima; Josh Brolin as Bangley; Guy Pearce as Pops; Allison Janney as Darlene; Benedict Wong as Aaron; Ewen Bremner as Crossbow Hunter; James Craze as Logan - **Runtime:** 1h 59m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 28 August 2026 - **Genres:** Science Fiction, Thriller - **Budget:** $110 million - **Box office:** $37 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xSxaE1ClEE ## Where to watch in the US Not streaming, renting or buying in the US at the last check. ## If you liked this - *The Quiet Earth* (1985), Fi1m 78: For another lonely survivor whose need for company complicates staying alive — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-earth.md) - *The Rover* (2014): A harsher account of survival, with a damaged, uneasy central partnership - *Leave No Trace* (2018), Fi1m 88: Shared routines and outdoor living reveal more about people than speeches — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/leave-no-trace.md) - *The Survivalist* (2015), Fi1m 77: Farming and mistrust become the basis for a much tighter thriller — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-survivalist.md) - *Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind* (1984), Fi1m 85: A more imaginative ruined world, with compassion driving the adventure — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/warriors-of-the-wind.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-dog-stars