The The Dog Stars Rotten Tomatoes score is in, and the early critical response is proving far less enthusiastic than many movie fans might have expected from a new Ridley Scott film featuring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley.

As of Aug. 27, 2026, The Dog Stars sits at 38% on Rotten Tomatoes from 95 critic reviews, according to the site’s current listing. The film is scheduled to open widely in theaters on Aug. 28.

The result puts Scott’s latest movie firmly in the disappointing range among critics. That is particularly notable because the filmmaker has directed some of modern cinema’s most celebrated films, including Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator and The Martian.

However, the early reviews are not entirely negative. Several critics have praised the film’s visual presentation, performances and more hopeful approach to the post-apocalyptic genre. The bigger complaints center on the screenplay, pacing, familiar story elements and uncertainty about exactly what kind of movie The Dog Stars wants to be.

The Dog Stars Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Currently 38%

The most important number for moviegoers is straightforward: 38%.

Rotten Tomatoes currently lists The Dog Stars at 38% with 95 critic reviews counted. The site categorizes the film as an R-rated adventure, mystery and thriller running approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes.

That score can still change as additional reviews arrive, but the overall picture is already clear. Critics are divided, with a substantial number finding the movie entertaining or visually impressive while others consider it an underwhelming entry in Scott’s extensive filmography.

The score is especially striking because expectations were high.

Scott is one of the industry’s most recognizable directors, and the film brings together a commercially powerful cast. Jacob Elordi stars as Hig, with Josh Brolin playing Bangley and Margaret Qualley appearing as Cima. Guy Pearce and Allison Janney are also part of the cast.

That combination suggested the possibility of a major late-summer science-fiction or post-apocalyptic hit.

Instead, the first wave of reviews has produced a much more complicated verdict.

Why Critics Are Divided on The Dog Stars

The basic concept of The Dog Stars is familiar.

The story takes place after a devastating pandemic has wiped out much of humanity. Hig, a pilot and survivor, lives in isolation with his dog Jasper and Bangley, a hardened military veteran.

Their carefully maintained existence changes when Hig receives a mysterious radio transmission.

The signal gives him a reason to leave the relative safety of his home and investigate what might exist beyond their isolated community. His journey eventually brings him into contact with other survivors and introduces the possibility of rebuilding human connections.

That setup gives Scott plenty of opportunities to create suspense and spectacle.

Yet several reviewers have argued that the movie struggles to turn its promising premise into a consistently compelling story.

Rotten Tomatoes’ roundup of early reviews highlights recurring criticism of the film’s familiar post-apocalyptic ideas, uneven storytelling and screenplay. At the same time, critics have frequently praised Scott’s ability to create atmosphere and several of the performances.

In other words, the movie’s biggest strengths and weaknesses appear to exist side by side.

Jacob Elordi Earns Some Praise

One of the more encouraging elements in the reviews is the response to Jacob Elordi.

The actor plays Hig, the central character whose journey drives much of the movie. Hig is not presented as a conventional action hero. Instead, he is a survivor dealing with isolation, grief and the need to find some sense of humanity after civilization has collapsed.

Rotten Tomatoes’ collection of early reviews notes that critics have praised Elordi’s charisma and performance.

That is significant because the character requires the actor to carry much of the film’s quieter material.

Rather than relying entirely on action, The Dog Stars spends considerable time exploring Hig’s emotional state and his desire for connection.

Some critics have found that approach effective.

Others have argued that the screenplay does not provide enough psychological depth to make Hig’s journey as powerful as it could have been.

That difference in interpretation helps explain why the film’s overall critical reception is considerably weaker than the cast might suggest.

Josh Brolin Could Be the Movie’s Biggest Scene Stealer

Josh Brolin appears to have made a particularly strong impression.

He plays Bangley, an ex-Marine whose worldview is substantially more aggressive and pragmatic than Hig’s. The character is responsible for much of the film’s tension, but he also provides a contrasting personality to the quieter protagonist.

Rotten Tomatoes’ first-review roundup includes praise for Brolin’s performance, with critics noting that the actor brings energy and humor to the role.

That dynamic is important to the movie.

Hig represents a desire to reconnect with other people and recover some sense of normal life. Bangley, meanwhile, is focused on survival and security.

Their relationship gives the film an opportunity to explore a familiar post-apocalyptic question: when civilization disappears, should survivors preserve humanity or simply do whatever is necessary to stay alive?

The problem, according to some critics, is that the film does not always develop those ideas with enough complexity.

The Visuals Are One of the Strongest Elements

Even reviewers who dislike the movie’s story have found positive things to say about its presentation.

That should not be surprising.

Ridley Scott has built much of his reputation on visual world-building. From the industrial nightmare of Alien to the futuristic landscapes of Blade Runner and the historical spectacle of Gladiator, Scott has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to create distinctive cinematic environments.

The Dog Stars gives him another opportunity to do that.

The movie presents a devastated post-pandemic America, with isolated communities, abandoned infrastructure and landscapes that have begun to reclaim areas once controlled by civilization.

Rotten Tomatoes’ review roundup repeatedly identifies cinematography and atmosphere as strengths.

That visual quality could make The Dog Stars worth seeing on a large screen even for audiences who are less convinced by its story.

Several reviewers have essentially reached that conclusion: the movie may not represent Scott at his best, but it remains visually accomplished.

The Biggest Problem May Be the Script

The most consistent criticism appears to involve the screenplay.

Mark L. Smith wrote the script, adapting Peter Heller’s 2012 novel of the same name. The story therefore has a literary foundation rather than being an entirely original Hollywood concept.

Critics have questioned whether the adaptation successfully translates the novel’s ideas to the screen.

Some reviews describe the dialogue as heavy-handed or artificial. Others argue that the story lacks cohesion and that its characters are not developed deeply enough.

Rotten Tomatoes’ review roundup also identifies concerns about the film’s world-building and the way the story moves between different genres and tones.

That criticism is particularly relevant because The Dog Stars attempts to balance several identities.

It is partly a survival thriller.

It is partly a post-apocalyptic drama.

It also contains elements of romance, western-style storytelling and action cinema.

That mixture can work when the different components reinforce each other. But some reviewers believe The Dog Stars never fully decides which movie it wants to be.

The Action May Not Be Enough for Everyone

Moviegoers expecting a nonstop survival thriller should probably adjust their expectations.

According to Rotten Tomatoes’ collection of early reviews, the movie does contain several substantial action sequences, and some critics have praised those scenes.

However, action is not necessarily the film’s primary focus.

Much of the story is concerned with Hig’s emotional journey and his attempts to understand whether humanity can recover after catastrophe.

That slower approach has divided critics.

Some appreciate the film’s willingness to emphasize character development and hope instead of turning the apocalypse into a continuous series of battles.

Others feel that the movie is too slow and does not generate enough momentum.

The distinction matters for audiences.

Someone looking for a thoughtful post-apocalyptic drama may find the slower pacing appealing. Someone expecting an intense survival spectacle could find the movie frustrating.

The Dog Stars Is More Hopeful Than Expected

Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects of the early response is the film’s optimistic streak.

Post-apocalyptic movies often focus on despair. Society has collapsed, resources are scarce and survivors are forced to confront violence and uncertainty.

The Dog Stars uses those familiar ingredients but also explores the possibility that people can rebuild relationships and rediscover compassion.

Rotten Tomatoes’ review roundup specifically notes that several critics recognized the movie’s hopeful outlook.

That gives the film a different tone from many recent dystopian stories.

Rather than suggesting that humanity’s worst instincts will inevitably win, Scott’s movie appears interested in the possibility that people can still choose cooperation and connection.

Whether that message works will depend heavily on the viewer.

Some critics have found the optimism refreshing.

Others have considered the movie’s later developments overly sentimental or unconvincing.

How Does The Dog Stars Compare With Ridley Scott’s Other Movies?

This is where the The Dog Stars Rotten Tomatoes score becomes especially interesting.

Scott’s career is unusually long and varied. His filmography includes landmark science-fiction films, historical epics, war movies, crime dramas and contemporary thrillers.

That history makes every new Scott movie subject to unusually high expectations.

The early reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes repeatedly compare The Dog Stars with other points in Scott’s career. Some critics see it as a respectable middle-tier Scott film, while others regard it as evidence of a late-career decline.

It is important to remember that a Rotten Tomatoes percentage does not measure a movie’s quality on an absolute scale.

The score represents the percentage of critics whose reviews are classified as positive by the site’s methodology.

A 38% score therefore does not mean that 38% of the movie is good.

It means that, at the current count, fewer than half of the collected critics have given the film a sufficiently positive assessment.

The Movie Has One Major Advantage: Its Cast

Despite the critical disappointment, The Dog Stars has a cast that could help attract audiences.

Elordi has become one of the most recognizable young actors in Hollywood, while Brolin brings decades of experience and a strong screen presence.

Qualley adds another prominent name, while Pearce and Janney give the supporting cast additional weight.

The ensemble gives the movie credibility before audiences even see it.

The challenge is making sure the script gives those performers enough material to justify the investment.

According to the early reviews, Brolin and Qualley are among the performers who have received notable praise.

That suggests the film’s acting may be one of the reasons some audiences respond more positively than critics have.

When Does The Dog Stars Release?

The Dog Stars is scheduled to open in theaters on Aug. 28, 2026. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the film as an R-rated theatrical release with a runtime of 1 hour and 58 minutes.

The timing is interesting.

The movie arrives near the end of August, a period that is often viewed as a transition between the summer movie season and the major fall releases.

That could make word of mouth particularly important.

If audiences respond more enthusiastically than critics, The Dog Stars could develop into a sleeper hit despite its weak initial Tomatometer score.

If viewers agree with the critical consensus, however, the movie could struggle to stand out among the year’s larger releases.

Should You Watch The Dog Stars?

The answer depends on what you want from the movie.

If you are a Ridley Scott fan, the film is arguably worth seeing simply because of the filmmaker’s continuing ability to create ambitious cinematic worlds.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories that focus on relationships and survival rather than nonstop action, the movie may also appeal to you.

And if you are interested in Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin or Margaret Qualley, the cast provides another reason to give it a chance.

However, viewers expecting another Alien, Blade Runner or The Martian should lower their expectations.

The current The Dog Stars Rotten Tomatoes score suggests that critics do not consider the film another Scott classic. At 38% from 95 reviews, the critical consensus is clearly leaning negative.

Still, a low Tomatometer score does not automatically make a movie unwatchable.

The reviews indicate that The Dog Stars has real strengths: strong actors, impressive atmosphere, striking visuals and an unexpectedly hopeful perspective.

Its biggest weaknesses appear to be the screenplay, pacing and lack of originality.

Final Verdict: A Disappointing Score, but Not a Complete Disaster

The The Dog Stars Rotten Tomatoes score has delivered bad news for fans hoping Ridley Scott’s latest movie would become another critical triumph.

At 38% from 95 reviews as of Aug. 27, the film is facing a difficult critical reception just before its Aug. 28 theatrical release.

Yet the picture is more complicated than the number suggests.

Critics have found genuine qualities in the movie, particularly its performances, visual atmosphere and emphasis on hope. The film’s action sequences can also be effective when they arrive.

The central problem is that those strengths apparently cannot overcome weaknesses in the screenplay and storytelling.

For Scott, The Dog Stars may ultimately be remembered not as a career-defining classic but as another ambitious late-career experiment that never quite reaches its potential.

For audiences, however, the final verdict remains unwritten.

Theaters will provide the next test.

If viewers connect with the film’s characters and emotional themes more strongly than critics did, The Dog Stars could prove that a low Tomatometer score is not necessarily the final word.

For now, though, the message from Rotten Tomatoes is unmistakable: Ridley Scott’s new post-apocalyptic movie has arrived with a critical storm rather than a standing ovation.

Credible External Sources

• Rotten Tomatoes — The Dog Stars
• Rotten Tomatoes — The Dog Stars First Reviews
• Forbes — The Dog Stars Rotten Tomatoes Review Score Is In
• Associated Press — The Dog Stars Review
• The Guardian — The Dog Stars Review

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