The Dog Stars Moves Into Its Official Theatrical Release
The post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars, directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott, opened in theaters on August 28, 2026. The release date is confirmed by the official 20th Century Studios page, Disney+ information, and the official trailer description.
The film is set in a world where civilization has collapsed after a widespread influenza pandemic. It follows Hig, a young pilot, and Bangley, a military survivalist, as they try to survive. Jacob Elordi plays Hig, while Josh Brolin plays Bangley.
This release marks the point at which the project has moved beyond its initial introduction and into an officially confirmed theatrical release with early reviews available.
The Source Novel and Key Creators
The Dog Stars is based on Peter Heller’s novel of the same name, with a screenplay by Mark L. Smith. According to the official 20th Century Studios information, the film is a thriller with a runtime of 1 hour 58 minutes and an R rating.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Release date | In theaters August 28, 2026 |
| Director and producer | Ridley Scott |
| Main cast | Jacob Elordi (Hig), Josh Brolin (Bangley) |
| Source novel and screenplay | Peter Heller’s novel of the same name; screenplay by Mark L. Smith |
| Genre, runtime, and rating | Thriller · 1 hour 58 minutes · R |
Early Reviews Were Mixed
Reviews published immediately before and after the release did not converge on a single view. The AP gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, while the AP, The Guardian, and the Los Angeles Times offered differing assessments of its approach to the post-apocalyptic genre and its overall execution.
Based only on the information currently available, it is too early to determine the film’s long-term reputation or box-office performance. For now, the key point is that several early reviews have been mixed.
Theatrical Release First… Disney+ Date Still Unannounced
Disney+’s official information says that the film is receiving a theatrical release first and notes that a Disney+ streaming date has not yet been announced. Its release date and theatrical availability in South Korea should be checked separately.
20th Century Studios has posted the official trailer on YouTube. The trailer serves as supporting material confirming the film’s post-apocalyptic setting, main characters, and August 28, 2026 theatrical release.
Official Sources
- [Official 20th Century Studios film page](https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/the-dog-stars)
- [Official Disney+ information](https://www.disneyplus.com/explore/articles/the-dog-stars-movie)
- [The Walt Disney Company announcement](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/the-dog-stars/)
- [Official 20th Century Studios trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVCrTJdNtSs)
- [AP review](https://apnews.com/article/dog-stars-movie-review-d036ad9c2d217c315dda124d215b195b)
- [The Guardian review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/aug/25/the-dog-stars-ridley-scott-review)
- [Los Angeles Times review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-08-28/the-dog-stars-review-jacob-elordi-margaret-qualley-josh-brolin-guy-pearce-ridley-scott)
- [Penguin Random House information on the source novel](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/219374/the-dog-stars-by-peter-heller/)
All information was checked between 21:45 and 21:50 UTC on August 29, 2026.