Ridley Scott’s ‘The Dog Stars’ Wraps Its Theatrical Run as One of 2026’s Biggest Box Office Disappointments

Ridley Scott has spent decades making big, ambitious films, from ‘Alien’ and ‘Blade Runner’ to ‘Gladiator’ and ‘The Martian’. His latest, ‘The Dog Stars’, adapted Peter Heller’s 2012 post-apocalyptic novel with a cast led by Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley.

The film follows survivors of a deadly global flu pandemic in rural Colorado. Elordi plays Hig, a pilot whose small comforts are his plane and his dog, alongside Brolin as the guarded survivor Bangley and Qualley as the hopeful medic Cima.

Now its run in theaters has come to an end, and the final numbers are grim. ‘The Dog Stars’ closed out its theatrical release with about $39 million worldwide against a reported budget of $110 million.

There were concerns long before opening weekend. The R-rated film reportedly tested poorly and landed in the last week of August, a period often seen as a dumping ground for releases.

Ridley Scott’s ‘THE DOG STARS’ ends its theatrical run by earning $39M globally. Budget was $110M. https://t.co/e3A7sPBn2c

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) October 7, 2026

Early tracking from Box Office Pro predicted a domestic opening of $18 million to $23 million. Analysts at the time noted that the film would likely need to gross at least $275 million worldwide to be considered a theatrical success.

The actual debut fell well short of those projections. Released by Disney’s 20th Century Studios on August 28 in about 3,330 North American theaters, the film earned roughly $8 million over its first 3 days and opened at No. 5.

The world that was doesn’t exist. THE DOG STARS, a Ridley Scott film, starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley, arrives in theaters and IMAX August 28. https://t.co/tcdirM4QUf

— 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) July 14, 2026

It added $11.3 million overseas for a global launch of about $19.3 million. It was also outperformed by ‘Coyote vs. Acme’, which opened the same weekend with around $15 million, while ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ continued to dominate the charts.

The debut ranked among the lowest of Scott’s career this century. He has directed 20 features since 2000, and very few opened lower than ‘The Dog Stars’. The budget has been a point of debate. 20th Century Studios reportedly put the cost at around $70 million, while production filings listed it at $110 million, likely before rebates were factored in.

Either way, the final total falls far short. The film ended its domestic run with about $15 million, with the rest of its $39 million coming from international markets. Reviews didn’t help. ‘The Dog Stars’ holds a 41% Tomatometer score from 221 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics describing it as mixed at best.

Audiences were warmer, giving the film a 70% Popcornmeter score. Some viewers praised the performances and scenery, but that support wasn’t enough to keep it in theaters. On paper, the film had plenty going for it. Mark L. Smith, known for ‘The Revenant’ and ‘Twisters’, wrote the screenplay, while Erik Messerschmidt served as cinematographer and Harry Gregson-Williams composed the score.

The supporting cast also included Guy Pearce, Allison Janney and Benedict Wong. Paul Mescal had previously been attached, but Scott’s representatives said his exit was strictly due to rehearsal scheduling conflicts. The film marked Elordi’s first collaboration with Scott, and it was one of his 2 releases this year. For Qualley, Brolin and Pearce, it adds to a busy year of projects.

For Scott, ‘The Dog Stars’ joins a list of costly misfires that some analysts had predicted. Still, the director has bounced back from disappointments before and continues to take on ambitious projects.

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