Ridley Scott's latest film, "The Dog Stars," has stumbled in its theatrical debut, grossing an estimated $19.3 million worldwide during its opening weekend. The film, a live-action adaptation of Peter Heller's 2012 novel, features a cast including Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin.
"The Dog Stars" landed in fifth place at the domestic box office, earning $8 million from 3,330 theaters. Internationally, it added $11.3 million. The film's synopsis describes it as a "riveting, epic thriller set in a world where survival is instinct, but humanity is a choice," following a young pilot named Hig as he ventures into the unknown in search of hope.
Several factors may have contributed to the soft launch. Critical reception has been lukewarm, with review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes awarding it a "rotten" 41% approval rating. IGN's review gave the film a 5/10, calling it "a post-apocalyptic survival story that’s encased in three layers of emotionally protective bubble wrap with a wild third-act twist."
While audience scores stand at a more favorable 70%, this has not translated into significant ticket sales. With an estimated production budget of $80 million, "The Dog Stars" faces a considerable challenge to turn a profit.
In contrast, "Coyote vs. Acme," another film released the same weekend, achieved a stronger domestic opening of $15.46 million. This Looney Tunes-based film, starring Will Forte, Lana Condor, and John Cena, nearly faced cancellation at Warner Bros. before Ketchup Entertainment and online fan support secured its theatrical release. IGN praised "Coyote vs. Acme" with a 9/10 review, deeming it "amazing" and "an amazingly meta answer to corporate shenanigans."
Other films continued to perform well, with "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" remaining at the top of the box office for its fourth week, accumulating $2.332 billion globally. "The Odyssey" secured third place with a worldwide total of $1.55 billion, and "Insidious: Out of the Further" reached $110.2 million in its second weekend.
Looking ahead, September 2026 is set to bring a slate of new releases, including "Practical Magic 2," "Runner," the Oasis reunion documentary "Don't Look Back in Anger," and "The Uprising," alongside anticipated titles like "Primtime," Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil," and a re-release of "Marvel's Avengers: Endgame."