The Dog Stars (2026)

The Dog Stars is Ridley Scott in late-career command: a lean, haunting post-pandemic thriller that finds beauty in ruined skies and tension in every quiet mile of open country. Jacob Elordi brings a wounded, watchful humanity to Hig, a man kept alive by routine, a loyal dog, and the thin thread of radio static that suddenly feels like destiny, while Josh Brolin’s hard-edged Bangley turns their uneasy partnership into a constant, gripping spark. The film’s vibe is equal parts elegy and adventure—sweeping Colorado vistas, the intimate hush of survival, and bursts of danger that arrive like weather—building suspense without resorting to cheap noise. If you want nonstop action or a rosy, crowd-pleasing apocalypse, this may feel too mournful and reflective, but if you’re drawn to smart, atmospheric science fiction with real stakes and a pulse of hope, it’s absolutely worth the flight.

Ridley Scott is clearly aiming for a moody, big-sky post-pandemic odyssey about loneliness, survival, and the stubborn flicker of hope, and when it’s just Hig in the air with the radio crackling, it can be genuinely gripping. The catch is that the story leans heavily on atmosphere over momentum, so if you want a tight, twisty thriller, the middle stretches may feel like it’s circling the runway. Jacob Elordi brings a quiet, wounded sincerity, and Josh Brolin’s hard-edged presence gives the film some bite, but the character beats can play more archetypal than surprising. If you’re in the mood for a reflective, sometimes bleak survival journey with bursts of danger rather than constant propulsion, it’s worth a look; if you’re allergic to slow-burn melancholy, this one may test your patience.