Ridley Scott's 'The Dog Stars' Receives Mixed Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Ridley Scott's dystopian thriller, The Dog Stars, featuring a cast including Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin, is not entirely winning over critics, despite the impressive talent involved.

Based on Peter Heller's 2012 best-selling novel of the same title, The Dog Stars is set to premiere in theaters nationwide on Friday. Elordi plays Hig, a young pilot navigating a post-apocalyptic world. Alongside a survivalist named Bangley, portrayed by Brolin, Hig embarks on a perilous journey into the unknown after receiving a mysterious radio signal.

Qualley stars as Cima, a young medic and Hig's girlfriend, while Guy Pearce appears as Cima’s father, Jack, a former Navy SEAL.

The film, rated R, also boasts performances from Oscar winner Allison Janney and Benedict Wong.

As of Thursday evening, The Dog Stars has a 40% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, based on 122 reviews. The Critics Consensus, Audience Summary, and Popcornmeter score are still awaiting compilation.

Individual Critic Opinions on 'The Dog Stars'

Helen O'Hara from Empire Magazine is among the critics who have given The Dog Stars a "rotten" score, noting that while it's a visually appealing take on the post-apocalyptic genre, it's too familiar and somber to leave a lasting impression.

Soren Andersen of the Seattle Times also awarded the film a "rotten" rating, describing it as a cumbersome creation that falters across its post-apocalyptic setting and fails to "soar."

John Wenzel of the Denver Post also expressed disappointment, stating in his "rotten" review summary that despite its technical polish and appealing cast, The Dog Stars wastes its actors' talents and prioritizes conventional action over genuine insight, leaving little to ponder after viewing.

Robert Daniels of Roger Ebert also found The Dog Stars to be "rotten," humorously suggesting that creating a dull post-apocalyptic survival action film requires more effort than a good one, implying Ridley Scott must have worked excessively hard on this particular project.

William Bibbani of The Wrap concisely summarized his "rotten" review by stating, "There are way too many faults in these Stars. Woof."

However, Tim Grierson of Screen International offered a "fresh" review, commending Ridley Scott's direction and his focus on the characters' shared grief, which he found more compelling than the film's conventional conflicts.

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter also praised the film, highlighting Jacob Elordi's introspective, star-quality performance reminiscent of Kevin Costner's early career, and cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt's sweeping visuals that lend grace to the deliberately paced but captivating narrative.

In his "fresh" review, Simon Crook of Time Out appreciated the film's more subtle moments, suggesting that The Dog Stars offers a surprisingly poignant reflection on what has been lost, despite occasional flashes of action reminiscent of Mad Max.

Nick Schager of The Daily Beast also gave The Dog Stars a "fresh" rating but voiced reservations, arguing that the film's aesthetic appeal cannot overcome its derivative nature, feeling like a patchwork of its genre predecessors.

The screenplay for The Dog Stars was adapted by Mark L. Smith and Christopher Wilkinson, and the film is scheduled for release in theaters nationwide on Friday.