Ridley Scott’s New Action Sci-Fi Thriller First Reactions Greatly Divide Critics

Published Aug 25, 2026, 1:56 PM EDT

Early reactions to The Dog Stars praise the movie's striking visuals, emotional performances and surprisingly human take on the post-apocalypse. Others have criticized its slow pacing, familiar story and underdeveloped screenplay, arguing that Scott’s direction is stronger than the material he was given.

Some early viewers have praised The Dog Stars as an unusually intimate and emotionally grounded post-apocalyptic story. Phil Roberts of Future of the Force called it a “humble and emotionally weighted change of pace” for Scott on X, while MovieWeb’s Rob Sperduto called it a “surprisingly optimistic and sincere post-apocalyptic neo-Western” and praised Jacob Elordi’s vulnerability.

Other critics were much less impressed. Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture argued that the screenplay undercuts Scott’s strongest work behind the camera, while The HoloFiles called the movie a generic post-apocalyptic thriller that feels too similar to The Last of Us and 28 Days Later.

The split seems to come down to what viewers expected. Some liked the movie’s slower, more emotional story, while others wanted a faster-paced Ridley Scott action thriller.

What is The Dog Stars about?

Image: 20th Century Studios

Based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, The Dog Stars takes place after a devastating pandemic has wiped out much of humanity. Elordi plays Hig, a civilian pilot living on an isolated homestead with his dog and Bangley, a hardened former Marine played by Josh Brolin.

The two men have built a tense partnership focused on survival, protecting their home and searching for signs of life. But when Hig picks up a mysterious radio transmission, he leaves the safety of the homestead to find whoever may be on the other end.

The novel was well received when it was published. The Dog Stars became a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of 2012 by The Atlantic, The Guardian and Publishers Weekly. That reputation gives Scott’s adaptation plenty to live up to.

The film also stars Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Allison Janney and Benedict Wong. Ridley Scott directs from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, whose credits include The Revenant and American Primeval.

The Dog Stars opens in theaters Aug. 28.