Ridley Scott's upcoming sci-fi thriller, The Dog Stars, is facing a difficult critical reception ahead of its scheduled August 2026 release. Based on the bestselling post-apocalyptic novel by Peter Heller, the film has debuted with a lukewarm 44% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
A 44% Rotten Tomatoes score marks a decade-low for Ridley Scott
The initial critical response to The Dog Stars suggests a significant departure from the director's recent successes. As the report notes, the film's 44% rating is Ridley Scott's lowest-scored project in the 2020s, falling behind the 58% score achieved by his film Napoleon. It represents his most poorly received work in twelve years , surpassed only by 2014's Exodus: Gods and Kings, which earned a 29% rating.
This lukewarm reception stands in stark contrast to Scott's own high expectations for the project. Before the reviews surfaced, the filmmaker suggested that The Dog Stars was "probably the best movie I've done since The Martian." However, the current consensus indicates that the film may struggle to live up to that ambitious self-assessment.
The loss of Peter Heller's first-person narrative
A primary point of contention among critics involves the decision to alter the structure of Peter Heller's original source material. The novel, which became a bestseller fourteen years ago, relies on a first-person narrative to convey the profound grief and isolation of its protagonist. By shifting away from this perspective, the film has reportedly struggled to capture the raw emotional depth found in the book.
This narrative shift appears to have impacted how the audience connects with the characters living in a world decimated by an influenza pandemic.. While the film follows survivors Hig, played by Jacob Elordi, and Bangley, played by Josh Brolin, critics argue that the lack of an internal monologue makes it difficult to experience the true weight of their survival journey.
Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin navigate a landscape of recycled tropes
Despite the narrative criticisms, the film's technical merits and casting have received notable praise. Critics have highlighted the "beautiful visuals" and the strong performances delivered by Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley.. The film aims to depict a world where humanity is a dwindling resource, forcing the remaining survivors to face lingering perils in search of a better life.
However, the film's execution of the post-apocalyptic genre has been described as uninspired by several reviewers. Many critics pointed out that The Dog Stars relies heavily on recycled genre tropes rather than offering a groundbreaking vision of the future. This lack of innvoation has led to accusations that the film feels more like a standard adventure than a transformative piece of science fiction.
Can a 'refreshing focus on hope' salvage the August 28, 2026 release?
While the general criticcal consensus is underwhelming, some voices suggest the film may still find an audience through its thematic core. According to ScreenRant's Jordan William, the film is an "entertaining, visually stunning ride with a refreshing focus on hope," even if the story itself is not considered groundbreaking. William awarded the film a 6 out of 10, noting that the cast helps mitigate issues with character depth and underwhelming subplots.
This leaves several questions regarding the film's ultimate impact. Will the visual spectacle and the star power of Elordi and Brolin be enough to overcome the "lackluster character depth" cited by detractors? Furthermore, it remains to be seen if the film's heavy-handed themes regarding humanity will resonate with general audiences or if the reliance on genre clichés will alienate viewers looking for something more original.
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