20th Century Fox’s movie “The Dog Stars” had a disappointing opening weekend at the box office, making only $19.3 million in the US. Estimated to cost $80 million to produce, the film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Jacob Elordi received harsh criticism for its slow pace, cliché genre elements, and peculiar ending.
This underwhelming performance adds to Ridley Scott’s recent string of box office misses, following his previous films like “Napoleon” and “Gladiator 2.” “The Dog Stars” joins a list of 2026 flops, including “Supergirl,” “The Bride,” and “Moana,” which failed to meet expectations financially.
Despite some films struggling, the box office in 2026 has seen success with movies like “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “The Odyssey,” “Michael,” and “Toy Story 5.” This year has shown a shift towards more original and standalone films, resonating well with audiences and contributing to the overall growth in box office revenue.
The US box office revenue has increased by 15% compared to the previous year, reaching $6.2 billion by August 2. Similarly, the Canadian box office has seen significant gains in 2026 with unique films like “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie,” “Little Lorraine,” and “Mile End Kicks.”
With the potential release of films like “Dune 3” and “Avengers: Doomsday” by the end of the year, 2026 could be a $10 billion year at the box office. Despite its struggles, “The Dog Stars” may indicate a shift in audience preferences towards more innovative and boundary-pushing storytelling in films.
