Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars Receives Mixed Critical Response Amid Minimal Studio Marketing

The 20th Century Studios production faces polarized reviews for its somber tone and pacing following a low-profile late-summer release.

August 28, 2026 · Ridley Scott, Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, 20th Century Studios, Post-Apocalyptic Cinema

20th Century Studios released Ridley Scott’s latest feature, The Dog Stars, on Friday, Aug. 28, following a late-summer push that characterized the film as a low-profile release. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Disney opted for minimal advance fanfare, which included a sparse press schedule with lead actors and a lack of a U.S. red carpet premiere. This marketing approach stood in contrast to the high-octane visibility typically associated with Scott’s previous major works, such as Gladiator or his 2015 survival sci-fi The Martian, which earned over $630 million worldwide according to ScreenRant.

The film is an adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, with a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, known for his work on The Revenant and Twisters. Industry analysts note that the production positions itself within a modern trend of small-scale, intimate post-apocalyptic narratives, similar in scope to The Last of Us, rather than the sweeping action spectacles of the early 2010s like I Am Legend or The Day After Tomorrow, according to Collider.

Production Details and Casting

Scott’s 30th feature film centers on the year 2035, a decade after a global influenza pandemic decimated the human population. The narrative follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), a mechanic who survives alongside his Belgian Malinois, Jasper, in an abandoned airplane hangar at an airstrip in Erie, Colorado. He is joined by Bangley (Josh Brolin), a cynical ex-Marine who manages weapons and fortifications.

The production utilized locations in Italy’s Alpine foothills as well as the Abruzzo and Lazio regions to serve as stand-ins for the Colorado landscape, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The film features an ensemble cast including Margaret Qualley as Cima, Guy Pearce as Pops, Allison Janney as Darlene, Benedict Wong as Aaron, Sai Bennett as Melissa, and Ewen Bremner.

Critical Reception Disparities

Critics are divided on Scott’s directorial choices regarding the film’s pacing and emotional weight. The Hollywood Reporter describes the movie as a “subdued but pleasingly soulful” dystopian Western, calling it Scott’s best work since The Martian. This outlet highlights Elordi’s “introspective movie-star magnetism” and praises the panoramic vistas provided by cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt.

Conversely, IndieWire characterizes the film as “bizarrely inert,” suggesting that the action sequences feel perfunctorily jammed into a somber mood piece without contributing to the primary story arcs. This outlet specifically criticized the lack of chemistry between Elordi and Qualley in the romantic subplot. Additionally, IndieWire labeled the production a “phoned-in job” by Scott, noting a lack of tension in the battle scenes involving the “Reapers,” a face-painted group of scavengers from Mexico.

Collider offers a middle-ground assessment, describing the film as “enjoyable but uneven.” While acknowledging the lush cinematography and solid performances, Collider notes that the script touches on surface-level themes of loss and connection without digging deeply into the psychological complexities of living in a collapsed society. The report suggests that while Elordi handles the physical requirements of an action hero well, his performance occasionally fails to fully settle into the character’s emotional core.

Industry Implications and Future Outlook

The mixed reception highlights a shift in Ridley Scott’s late-career output toward more ruminative, character-driven drama. While some critics view the film as a misstep that lacks the muscle of his recent hits like Gladiator II, others see it as a successful pivot to a new class of intimate survival cinema.

For investors and industry observers, the move by Disney/20th Century Studios to “bury” the release suggests a strategy of testing smaller-scale, high-concept dramas in a crowded market dominated by established TV franchises. The success of The Dog Stars will likely be measured by its ability to find an audience for its slower pace among mature viewers who prefer human compassion over survivalist thrills.

To watch next: Mark L. Smith is slated to write the upcoming World War II football drama The Mosquito Bowl for director Peter Berg, which may provide further insight into his current approach to large-scale narrative structures.