Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” hit digital stores Oct. 27 and ranked No. 3 on Apple’s iTunes movie chart two days later. It is not on Hulu or Disney+ yet, and no date is set.
Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” is finding the audience at home that it missed in theaters. Apple’s own iTunes Top Movies chart ranked the 20th Century Studios film No. 3 in the U.S. on the morning of Oct. 29, two days after its digital release.
The film trails only “Verity” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” ComingSoon also reported the No. 3 spot Thursday, citing the PopVortex chart tracker. That’s a solid bounce for a movie many outlets labeled a summer bomb.
Why is everyone searching for The Dog Stars?
“The Dog Stars” landed on premium digital Tuesday, Oct. 27. Search interest picked up as fan sites and entertainment outlets reported its climb up the rental and purchase charts.
This “streaming success” is about paid digital rentals and sales. The movie is not streaming on Hulu or Disney+ yet, and nobody has released viewer counts.
We could not find Nielsen or FlixPatrol figures for it, so the iTunes ranking is the best hard number available.
Fun bonus: Scott’s 2008 spy thriller “Body of Lies” sat at No. 8 on the same iTunes chart. Somebody is having a Ridley week.
Where can you watch The Dog Stars?
You can rent or buy it now on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home, according to Laughing Place. JustWatch lists the 4K price at $19.99 to rent and $24.99 to buy.
The 4K Ultra HD and DVD versions arrive Tuesday, Dec. 1. Laughing Place reports bonus features include a making-of featurette and seven deleted scenes.
When will The Dog Stars stream on Hulu or Disney+?
Disney has not announced a date, and the film is not listed on either service.
What’s On Disney Plus guessed back in August that early December was possible, based on Disney’s usual theatrical window. That was an estimate, so don’t set your calendar by it.
Who stars in The Dog Stars?
Scott directed from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel. Wikipedia lists these main roles:
Jacob Elordi as Hig, a pilot who lives with his dog
Josh Brolin as Bangley, an ex-Marine and Hig’s companion
Margaret Qualley as Cima, a young medic
Guy Pearce as Pops, Cima’s father and a former Navy SEAL
Allison Janney and Benedict Wong also appear. ComingSoon reports that Paul Mescal was first set to play Hig before Elordi took over in January 2025 because of scheduling conflicts.
The film shot in Italy in 2025, including Rome’s Cinecitta Studios, plus scenes at Pinewood Studios.
Here’s the official trailer from 20th Century Studios:
How did The Dog Stars do at the box office?
It was rough. The film opened in U.S. theaters Friday, Aug. 28, after Disney moved it from its original March date.
Variety reported an opening of about $8 million from 3,330 theaters, good for fifth place. Audiences gave it a “C+” CinemaScore.
The Numbers tracks the full run at:
Domestic: about $15 million
International: about $24.4 million
Worldwide: about $39.3 million
The Numbers lists the production budget at $110 million. Variety reported it cost more than $80 million. Either way, the theatrical gross fell far short of the cost.
What did critics think of The Dog Stars?
Reviews were mixed. ComingSoon reports a 41% Rotten Tomatoes score from 222 critics and a 49 on Metacritic.
Tom’s Guide called it “very much a movie of moments,” with strong world building that never quite comes together. That kind of movie can play better on a couch with snacks.
Will a hit at home change how Disney sees the film?
Disney has not commented on the digital performance. Chart rankings show what’s selling right now, so the picture could shift by next week.
For 20th Century Studios, a strong home run helps soften a rough summer. For viewers, it means a big-budget Ridley Scott movie is now an easy weekend rental.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Apple iTunes (Oct. 29), Top Movies chart rankings
ComingSoon (Oct. 29), PopVortex chart rank, reviews, casting history
Laughing Place, digital retailers, disc date, bonus features
JustWatch, rental and purchase prices
What’s On Disney Plus, streaming window estimate
Wikipedia, cast, roles, screenwriter, filming locations
The Numbers, box office totals, budget
Variety, opening weekend, theaters, CinemaScore, budget
Tom’s Guide, review quote, digital date
20th Century Studios, official trailer
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