In Brief:
- Ridley Scott's "The Dog Stars," starring Jacob Elordi, ranks No. 3 on Apple's iTunes movie charts, per PopVortex.
- The film opened Aug. 28, 2026, earned $8 million domestically, and has grossed $39 million worldwide.
- Rotten Tomatoes gives it 41%, Metacritic 49, and audiences a "C+" CinemaScore.
Image Credit: @20thCenturyStudios
The Dog Stars: Jacob Elordi's latest film struggled at the box office. Now it is getting a second chance at home.
Ridley Scott's "The Dog Stars" ranks No. 3 on Apple's iTunes movie charts, according to PopVortex.
Only "Verity" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" sit ahead of it.
That puts the post-apocalyptic thriller among Apple's three most popular movie downloads.
What the film is about
The story centers on Hig, a civilian pilot. He survives in rural Colorado years after a deadly flu pandemic.
Bangley, a former Marine turned survivalist, lives alongside him. Hig sometimes flies into an empty Denver to find supplies.
Then a mysterious radio signal changes everything. It pushes him to leave the safety of his homestead.
Cast and production
Elordi leads the cast. Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley and Guy Pearce also star.
Scott directed the film. Mark L. Smith wrote the screenplay. It is based on Peter Heller's 2012 novel.
20th Century Studios produced it with Scott Free Productions. Filming took place at several locations in Italy.
These included Cinecittà Studios in Rome and the Cansiglio plateau.
A rocky release
The film premiered Aug. 20, 2026, at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.
It reached U.S. theaters on Aug. 28. That was a delay from its original March 2026 date.
The opening weekend was weak. The film earned just $8 million domestically.
The numbers
"The Dog Stars" has grossed $39 million worldwide. Its reported production budget ranges from $70 million to $110 million.
Critics were not kind. The film holds a 41% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 222 reviews.
Metacritic gave it 49 out of 100. Audiences were only slightly warmer. They gave it a "C+" CinemaScore.
Viewers can now rent the film on iTunes for $19.99. The purchase price is $24.99.
A late casting change
Elordi was not the first choice for the lead role. Paul Mescal was originally set to star.
Elordi replaced him in January 2025. Mescal had scheduling conflicts with Sam Mendes' Beatles biopic series.
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