Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars Earns One Of The Director's Lowest Box Office Debuts Of The Century (Domestic Top 5)

Updated Aug 30, 2026, 11:25 AM EDT Brennan Klein (he/him) is a senior news writer at Screen Rant, host of the Attack of the Queerwolf podcast, and contributor at Alternate Ending and Horror Press. He has been writing and podcasting about pop culture (especially horror movies) for over a decade at platforms including Blumhouse, Fangoria, Dread Central, The Backlot, and Arrow in the Head. Sign in to your ScreenRant account UPDATE: 2026/08/30 06:45 EST BY BRENNAN KLEIN The Dog Stars Doesn't Budge From Saturday's Lukewarm $8M Projections, While Coyote Vs. Acme Usurps The Odyssey This article was originally written Saturday AM and has been updated Sunday AM with up-to-date box office projections (in bold). Scroll down for a full chart and further analysis. The Dog Stars isn't fetching a lot of money during its opening weekend. The new movie, which was helmed by legendary director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, The Martian), is adapted from the 2012 Peter Heller novel of the same name and follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), a pilot who tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic world that has been devastated by a superflu. The ensemble cast also includes Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, and Allison Janney. 2026's The Dog Stars debuted on August 28, during the waning days of the summer blockbuster season. Cinema · A Ridley Scott Production Ridley ScottFilmography Trivia 👽Sci-FiIn space ⚔HistoricalEpic 🎥ThrillerTension 🏆LegacyLegend 🚀ModernVisionary LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! → 01 Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi horror masterpiece introduced audiences to one of cinema’s most terrifying creatures and launched a massive franchise. The film’s tagline was “In space, no one can hear you scream.” What is this iconic film? ABlade Runner BAlien CPrometheus DThe Martian ✓ Correct! Alien (1979) redefined both the sci-fi and horror genres. Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley became one of cinema’s greatest heroines, and H.R. Giger’s nightmarish creature design created an icon of terror that has endured for over four decades. ✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Alien. Released in 1979, it combined claustrophobic horror with science fiction in a way never seen before. The film spawned multiple sequels, prequels, and crossovers, becoming one of the most successful franchises in movie history. NEXT → 02 Ridley Scott’s 1982 neo-noir sci-fi film, initially a box office disappointment, went on to become one of the most influential films ever made. It explores the question of what it means to be human through artificial beings called replicants. What is this film? ATotal Recall BAlien CBlade Runner DA.I. Artificial Intelligence ✓ Correct! Blade Runner (1982) is now considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. Based on Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,” it pioneered the cyberpunk aesthetic and raised profound philosophical questions about consciousness and identity. ✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Blade Runner. Despite underperforming at the box office in 1982, it became a cult classic and is now widely regarded as a masterpiece. Its rain-soaked neon cityscape and Rutger Hauer’s “tears in rain” monologue are etched into cinema history. NEXT → 03 Ridley Scott directed a 2000 epic historical drama starring Russell Crowe as a Roman general betrayed by the emperor’s son and forced to fight as a gladiator. The film won five Academy Awards including Best Picture. What is this film? AKingdom of Heaven BTroy CBen-Hur DGladiator ✓ Correct! Gladiator (2000) revived the sword-and-sandal epic genre and earned Russell Crowe the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film’s iconic line “Are you not entertained?” and Hans Zimmer’s thunderous score cemented it as one of the greatest historical epics ever made. ✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Gladiator. Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius is legendary. The film won five Oscars and single-handedly revived the historical epic genre, inspiring countless imitators in the years that followed. NEXT → 04 In 1991, Ridley Scott directed a groundbreaking road thriller starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as two women on the run after a tragic incident. The film became a cultural landmark for its feminist themes. What is this film? AThelma & Louise BG.I. Jane CA Good Year DSomeone to Watch Over Me ✓ Correct! Thelma & Louise (1991) was a cultural phenomenon that challenged Hollywood conventions. Written by Callie Khouri, who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, the film’s iconic final scene of the 1966 Thunderbird sailing over the Grand Canyon remains one of cinema’s most memorable images. ✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Thelma & Louise. This 1991 road thriller starred Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis and became a landmark of feminist cinema. It also featured a young Brad Pitt in a breakout role that helped launch his career. NEXT → 05 Ridley Scott directed a 2001 war film based on the true story of a U.S. military operation in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993, where a mission to capture a warlord went catastrophically wrong. What is this film? AAmerican Sniper BBlack Hawk Down CThe Kingdom DBody of Lies ✓ Correct! Black Hawk Down (2001) is a visceral, unflinching portrayal of the Battle of Mogadishu. Based on Mark Bowden’s book, the film won two Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. Its intense, documentary-style combat sequences set a new standard for war films. ✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Black Hawk Down. This 2001 war film depicted the harrowing 1993 Battle of Mogadishu with unflinching realism. American Sniper was directed by Clint Eastwood, while The Kingdom and Body of Lies were directed by other filmmakers. NEXT → 06 In 2015, Ridley Scott directed a survival sci-fi film starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars who must use his ingenuity to survive until rescue arrives. The film was based on Andy Weir’s novel. What is this film? AInterstellar BGravity CThe Martian DAd Astra ✓ Correct! The Martian (2015) was a critical and commercial triumph, earning over $630 million worldwide. Matt Damon’s charismatic performance as botanist Mark Watney, who “sciences the **** out of” his survival on Mars, earned the film seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture. ✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is The Martian. While Interstellar was directed by Christopher Nolan, Gravity by Alfonso Cuarón, and Ad Astra by James Gray, it was Ridley Scott who brought Andy Weir’s beloved novel about a stranded astronaut to spectacular life on screen. NEXT → 07 Ridley Scott returned to the Alien franchise in 2012 with a prequel film that explored the origins of humanity and the mysterious Engineers who created the xenomorphs. What is the name of this prequel? AAlien: Covenant BAlien: Resurrection CAliens DPrometheus ✓ Correct! Prometheus (2012) marked Ridley Scott’s return to the universe he created over three decades earlier. The film expanded the Alien mythology by exploring the Engineers, an ancient race responsible for creating human life, and introduced new questions about the origins of the deadly xenomorphs. ✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Prometheus. Alien: Covenant (2017) was actually the sequel to Prometheus. Aliens (1986) was directed by James Cameron, and Alien: Resurrection (1997) was directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Prometheus was Scott’s grand return to the franchise. NEXT → 08 Ridley Scott has directed over 25 feature films across multiple decades and genres. Despite his immense influence on cinema, he has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director multiple times but has never won. For which film did he receive his first Best Director Oscar nomination? AGladiator BBlade Runner CThelma & Louise DBlack Hawk Down ✓ Correct! Ridley Scott received his first Best Director Oscar nomination for Thelma & Louise (1991). He was nominated again for Gladiator (2000) and Black Hawk Down (2001), but has never won. Despite this, he received a knighthood in 2003 and remains one of cinema’s most respected and prolific directors. ✗ Even Ridley would call “Cut!” on that answer! The answer is Thelma & Louise. While many assume it was Gladiator, Scott’s first Best Director nomination actually came for the 1991 road thriller. He was subsequently nominated for Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, but the Oscar has remained elusive throughout his legendary career. REVEAL MY SCORE → Final Cut Complete Your Director’s Chair Rating / 8 Are you a Ridley Scott scholar — or still watching the director’s commentary? ↻ WATCH AGAIN Per Deadline, as of Sunday morning, The Dog Stars is projected to earn a 3-day total of $8 million at the domestic box office by the end of its opening weekend. This lukewarm result sees it set to debut at No. 5 behind titles including fellow new release Coyote vs. Acme (No. 2) and the holdover hits The Odyssey (No. 3 in its seventh weekend) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (No. 1 in its fifth). In addition to failing to launch any higher up the Top 5, The Dog Stars is set to earn the fifth-lowest domestic debut of any Ridley Scott movie of the century. Since 2000, the director has helmed 20 theatrically-released movies, peaking with the $58 million debut of 2001's Hannibal. The only four titles among that roster that earned less than Dog Stars' projected debut were A Good Year ($3.7 million), The Last Duel ($4.7 million during a pandemic-depressed era at the box office), All the Money in the World ($5.6 million), and The Counselor ($7.8 million). Every other title earned more than $10 million during their debut, with the next-lowest being Body of Lies ($12.9 million). Below, see a breakdown of the domestic debuts and overall worldwide performance of all the Ridley Scott movies released since 2000: Title Domestic Debut Worldwide Box Office Gladiator II (2024) $55 million $462.2 million Napoleon (2023) $20.6 million $222.4 million House of Gucci (2021) $14.4 million $153.3 million The Last Duel (2021) $4.7 million $30.5 million All the Money in the World (2017) $5.6 million $57 million Alien: Covenant (2017) $36.2 million $240.9 million The Martian (2015) $54.3 million $530.6 million Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) $24.1 million $268.2 million The Counselor (2013) $7.8 million $71 million Prometheus (2012) $51 million $403.3 million Robin Hood (2010) $36.1 million $321.7 million Body of Lies (2008) $12.9 million $115.9 million American Gangster (2007) $43.6 million $269.7 million A Good Year (2006) $3.7 million $42.3 million Kingdom of Heaven (2005) $19.6 million $214.2 million Matchstick Men (2003) $13.1 million $65.6 million Black Hawk Down (2001) $28.6 million (wide expansion) $173 million Hannibal (2001) $58 million $351.7 million Gladiator (2000) $34.8 million $465.5 million Given the performance of the previous Ridley Scott movies that debuted below $10 million, it seems unlikely that The Dog Stars will earn more than $100 million worldwide by the end of its run. This would not be a good result for the movie, considering the fact that it reportedly cost $70 million to make. Because of its budget, its estimated break-even point could potentially be as high as $175 million, which is a total that has so far only been reached by Ridley Scott's movies this century when they debuted with $19 million or more. While it could get a boost over the next few weeks if it has strong word of mouth, so far that level of audience enthusiasm has failed to materialize. It has a solid, though not especially impressive, 71% score from verified audience members on the Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter, and a thoroughly Rotten Tomatometer score of 40% from more than 150 critics' The Dog Stars reviews. While The Dog Stars may not prove to be a hit for Ridley Scott, the 88-year-old director is already in the works on several projects that could turn his box office prospects around. This includes an adaptation of Treasure Island starring Hugh Jackman and an as-yet untitled project about bankers for which he is circling Widow's Bay star Matthew Rhys to play a major role. This Weekend's Domestic Box Office Top 5 © Marvel Entertainment / © Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Below, see the full domestic Top 5 chart for the weekend: # Title 3-Day Total Cumulative (Domestic) 1 Spider-Man: Brand New Day $22.2 million $891.5 million (weekend 5) 2 Coyote vs. Acme $15.4 million $15.4 million (weekend 1) 3 The Odyssey $14.3 million $563.8 million (weekend 7) 4 Insidious: Out of the Further $10.1 million $43.6 million (weekend 2) 5 The Dog Stars $8 million $8 million (weekend 1) The Marvel Cinematic Universe smash hit Spider-Man: Brand New Day has managed to maintain its spot at No. 1 for the fifth weekend in a row. Last weekend, it had already become the 2026 release with the most consecutive weekends at the top of the domestic chart, so it is widening the gap between itself and its competitors even more. The only movie that will likely be able to rival it is the upcoming MCU crossover Avengers: Doomsday, which debuts on December 18. Meanwhile, the rest of the chart has shuffled around considerably. In addition to The Dog Stars debuting in the Top 5, the Looney Tunes movie Coyote vs. Acme (which is being distributed by Ketchup Entertainment, who acquired the rights after the movie was cancelled by Warner Bros. as a tax write-off in 2023) debuted at No. 2 with the distributor's best opening weekend in history (nearly quintupling their previous record-holder, which was 2024's The Day the Earth Blew Up with $3.1 million). Meanwhile, the horror sequel Insidious: Out of the Further is expected to drop 59.8% during its sophomore weekend (which is not shocking, as horror tends to be frontloaded - three of the previous five movies had sophomore drops higher than 60%), pushing it to No. 4 while Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey maintains its place at No. 3 with a graceful drop of just 27% during its seventh weekend. With The Dog Stars and Coyote vs. Acme taking up space on the chart, the previous No. 4 and No. 5 titles - the dinosaur movies PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie and The End of Oak Street - have both been pushed out of the Top 5. They're both set to hit cumulative domestic totals of roughly $45 million, which puts PAW Patrol (with its reported $40 million budget) on track to recoup its investment worldwide, but casts the prospects of Oak Street (which has a reported budget of at least $80 million) in doubt. Enjoy ScreenRant's box office coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly box office newsletter (make sure to check "Box Office" in your preferences) and get exclusive analysis, predictions, and more: Sign Up Release Date August 28, 2026 Runtime 119 minutes Director Ridley Scott Writers Mark L. Smith Producers Mark L. Smith, Michael A. Pruss, Ridley Scott, Cliff Roberts Set in a post-apocalyptic world where a deadly virus has decimated humanity, Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars follows Hig, a pilot and survivor fighting off a group of dangerous nomadic scavengers known as Reapers. Main Genre Sci-Fi Executive Producer(s) Aidan Elliott, Brandon Scott Smith, Lily Brooks-Dalton, Marco Valerio Pugini, Peter Heller, Raymond Kirk