The Dog Stars is now playing in theaters after opening on August 28, 2026. Ridley Scott’s R-rated post-apocalyptic thriller runs 1 hour 58 minutes and stars Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley. As of August 29, 20th Century Studios has not announced a digital purchase, rental, or streaming date.
The Dog Stars release details at a glance
- Where to watch now: movie theaters; home viewing has not been dated.
- Theatrical release: August 28, 2026.
- Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes.
- Rating: R.
- Director: Ridley Scott.
- Screenplay: Mark L. Smith, adapting Peter Heller’s novel.
- Main cast: Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, and Allison Janney.
- Streaming status: no service or release date has been announced.
Is The Dog Stars in theaters now?
Yes. The official 20th Century Studios page lists August 28, 2026 as the release date, and the studio’s current campaign directs viewers to theaters. That makes a theatrical screening the only officially announced way to watch the full movie right now.
The release is positioned as a large-screen survival thriller from Ridley Scott rather than a simultaneous home premiere. The official page also promotes IMAX in its film artwork, but individual format availability depends on the theater and market. Checking a local theater listing is the reliable way to confirm showtimes and premium-format screenings.
When will The Dog Stars be streaming?
No streaming date or platform has been announced. The studio’s official movie page and Disney’s August 27 feature both point to the theatrical opening without naming a digital purchase date, rental date, subscription service, or home-video schedule. Any date circulating without a studio announcement is therefore an estimate, not a confirmed release.
The same caution applies to guesses about which service will carry the film. Distribution patterns can change from title to title and from country to country. Pixel Twelve will update this page when 20th Century Studios or an authorized retailer publishes a specific home-viewing plan.
How long is The Dog Stars?
The official runtime is 1 hour 58 minutes. That figure comes directly from 20th Century Studios and refers to the movie itself; theater schedules can add trailers and advertisements before the feature. The film is rated R, so families should also check the rating guidance and local admission rules before buying tickets.
The two-hour scale gives Scott room to establish the airfield where Hig and Bangley survive, the conditions outside their perimeter, and the journey triggered by a mysterious radio transmission. It is a single feature film, not an episodic series.
Who is in The Dog Stars cast?
- Jacob Elordi: Hig, a young pilot and former mechanic who still searches for connection.
- Josh Brolin: Bangley, the former Marine and survivalist who protects their airfield home.
- Margaret Qualley: Cima, whom Hig meets after following the radio signal.
- Guy Pearce: Pops, Cima’s military-minded father.
- Benedict Wong: Aaron, a leader in a Mennonite community whose practical knowledge matters after the collapse.
- Allison Janney: Darlene; the official Disney feature confirms her participation without revealing a full character biography.
20th Century Studios lists all six performers in the principal cast. The official feature adds character context for Hig, Bangley, Cima, Pops, and Aaron while keeping several plot developments out of the marketing, so the descriptions above avoid late-story spoilers.
What is The Dog Stars about?
The story takes place in 2035 after a deadly flu has devastated the population and left society without reliable supplies, infrastructure, or trust. Hig and Bangley have built a defensible home at an abandoned airfield. Hig flies scouting missions with his dog Jasper, while Bangley approaches outsiders as potential threats.
A cryptic radio transmission persuades Hig to leave the relative safety of the airfield and search for whoever sent it. The official synopsis frames that journey around a choice between mere survival and preserving humanity. It is enough to establish the film’s central conflict without revealing what Hig ultimately finds.
Is The Dog Stars based on a book?
Yes. The movie adapts Peter Heller’s novel The Dog Stars. Mark L. Smith wrote the screenplay, and Ridley Scott directed and produced the film. Disney’s official feature says Scott committed after reading the script and that principal photography took place in Italy from April through June 2025.
The film keeps the novel’s core post-pandemic setup, Hig and Bangley’s uneasy partnership, the airfield, Jasper, and the radio signal. Adaptations can alter structure and detail, so plot points from the novel should not automatically be treated as a scene-by-scene account of the movie.
Who made The Dog Stars?
Ridley Scott directed The Dog Stars and produced it with Michael Pruss, Mark L. Smith, and Cliff Roberts. Smith is the credited screenwriter. The film is released by 20th Century Studios, whose official page supplies the release date, runtime, rating, cast, and production credits used in this guide.
The Dog Stars continues Scott’s long interest in survival under extreme conditions, but its official synopsis places personal connection at the center. Hig’s hope and Bangley’s suspicion give the apocalypse a human-scale conflict instead of treating the world’s collapse as spectacle alone.
What is still unannounced?
- Digital purchase and rental: no date or participating storefront has been announced.
- Subscription streaming: no service or start date has been confirmed.
- Physical release: no Blu-ray, DVD, or 4K date is listed by the studio.
- International home rollout: territory-specific plans remain unannounced.
For other confirmed release dates, cast guides, and viewing updates, browse the Pixel Twelve Movies hub.
