The Dog Stars

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The Dog Stars

R

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1h 58m

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

39%

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190 Reviews

70%

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500+ Verified Ratings

Ridley Scott's "The Dog Stars," is a riveting, epic thriller set in a world where survival is instinct, but humanity is a choice. Scott tells the story of Hig, a young pilot who, together with a military survivalist, Bangley, has carved out an efficient but isolated homestead in a brutal post-apocalyptic world until a mysterious radio transmission spurs Hig to venture into the unknown in search of the hope and humanity he still believes exists.

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Critics Consensus

A derivative and drowsy tour through the post-apocalypse, The Dog Stars' lush visuals can't compensate for its listless narrative and underpowered pacing.

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Audience Says

While its deliberate pace may not be everyone’s tempo, The Dog Stars undeniably shines thanks to the compelling performances of its lead cast.

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Adam Nayman

The New Republic

2d

For a movie set in a wasteland, The Dog Stars is cluttered with plot points and symbolic gimmicks; the pileup distracts from the fact that it isn’t really about anything at all.

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Jake Helm

The Times (UK)

2d

3/5

You have to hand it to Scott: even at the end of the world, he knows how to put on a show.

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Rebecca Onion

Slate

2d

In trying to give us what they think we want, Scott and Smith took away what this story needed.

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Lee McCoy

DrumDums

21h

6.5/10

It barely gets a pass plot wise, but luckily the star power lifts it above the muck.

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Margot Harrison

Seven Days (VT)

21h

The movie isn’t aggressively bad in any way, but it fails to capitalize on the book’s best aspects and doubles down on its hackneyed ones, making it a watch fit mainly for the dog days.

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Eileen Jones

The Jacobin

21h

We're seeing the limits of Jacob Elordi's acting ability and star quality here. He should never again play a depressed person wandering around lost in his own inner turmoil, because he really doesn't do it well. He just looks handsome and mopey.

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Johnboy The Hammerdog

1h

Really enjoyed this movie a lot. It slowly pulls you in as you try to figure it out. As the action begins it’s believable but there are scenes that are way over the top. Exciting and fun but, way out there. And you’ll ask yourself. How did he fix that ? He only had a screwdriver ??? Bawahahaha. Anyways. My lady liked the Boy meets girl romance stuff too.

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JACKSON Q

2h

I’m a massive fan of the book and that likely made it hard for me to really like this movie.

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Priyo

10h

A mid level Last Of Us episode.

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Juandi

11h

This movie is so tame in comparison to what the trailer gives off. It would be more enjoyable if there was a lot more action. That’s unfortunate because the cast is so good. It seems they were going for more of a “realistic” approach rather than it being action packed.

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mark V

12h

🎬 Movie Review: The Dog Stars The Dog Stars is a dark, emotional post-apocalyptic thriller that feels different from the usual end-of-the-world movies. Ridley Scott does a great job creating a lonely, dangerous world where survival is only part of the story — the bigger question is whether people can still hold on to their humanity. Jacob Elordi gives a strong performance as Hig, a pilot trying to survive after a devastating pandemic, while Josh Brolin brings plenty of intensity as Bangley. But one of the most emotional parts of the movie is Hig’s relationship with his dog, Jasper. That bond gives the movie a lot of heart and makes the story feel personal. The movie has some beautiful cinematography, tense action, and some genuinely strange and unexpected moments. It does get a little uneven at times, especially when the story shifts between emotional drama, survival thriller, and darker sci-fi. Overall, The Dog Stars isn’t a perfect movie, but it’s atmospheric, emotional, and definitely worth watching if you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories. ⭐ My rating: 8/10 A movie about survival, loss, loyalty, and finding a reason to keep going when the world has already fallen apart.

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Trinity

13h

An expected tear jerker.

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Ridley Scott

Director

Jacob Elordi

Hig

Josh Brolin

Bangley

Margaret Qualley

Cima

Allison Janney

Actor

Benedict Wong

Actor

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Synopsis

Ridley Scott's "The Dog Stars," is a riveting, epic thriller set in a world where survival is instinct, but humanity is a choice. Scott tells the story of Hig, a young pilot who, together with a military survivalist, Bangley, has carved out an efficient but isolated homestead in a brutal post-apocalyptic world until a mysterious radio transmission spurs Hig to venture into the unknown in search of the hope and humanity he still believes exists.

Director: Ridley Scott
Producer: Ridley Scott, Michael A. Pruss, Mark L. Smith, Cliff Roberts
Screenwriter: Mark L. Smith
Distributor: 20th Century Studios
Production Co: Scott Free Productions
Rating: R (Strong Violence|Language)
Genre: Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 2026, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.7M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

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