20th Century Fox’s movie “The Dog Stars” had a disappointing opening weekend at the box office, earning only $19.3 million US. The film, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Jacob Elordi, was estimated to cost $80 million US to produce. Critics criticized the film for its slow pace, cliché genre elements, and strange ending.
This underwhelming performance adds to a string of box office misses for Ridley Scott, with his recent movies like “Napoleon” and “Gladiator 2” also falling short in terms of earnings. “The Dog Stars” joins other films like “Supergirl,” “The Bride,” and “Moana” in the list of 2026 flops.
Despite challenges in the film industry, successful releases like “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “The Odyssey,” “Michael,” and “Toy Story 5” have helped boost 2026 box office numbers. This year, there has been a shift towards more original films rather than relying solely on sequels and franchises, leading to increased audience engagement.
The domestic box office revenue in the U.S. has seen a 15% increase compared to the same period last year, reaching $6.2 billion US by August 2. Similarly, the English-language Canadian box office has experienced growth, driven by unique films like “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie,” “Little Lorraine,” and “Mile End Kicks.”
The trend of audience preference for innovative storytelling is evident in the success of films like “Backrooms,” “Obsession,” “Project Hail Mary,” and the unexpected hit “Coyote vs. Acme.” These factors have contributed to the overall growth in box office revenue in 2026.
Looking ahead, with anticipated releases like “Dune 3” and “Avengers: Doomsday,” 2026 could potentially reach a $10 billion US box office year. While “The Dog Stars” may not have resonated with audiences, its performance reflects the changing tastes of viewers who seek fresh and boundary-pushing narratives in cinema.