Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars reaches digital after weak box office run
Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars became available on premium digital platforms on 27 October after earning about $39 million worldwide. Collider stresses the theatrical flop; Screen Rant stresses its early chart success on Apple's store.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller The Dog Stars was released on premium digital platforms in the US on 27 October, weeks after its theatrical run ended. ColliderN “The movie will be released on the PVOD market on October 27, after a lengthy theatrical window that it didn't capitalize on.” Read at Collider ↗ Screen RantN “as The Dog Stars was released on digital on October 27” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 2The film opened in cinemas at the end of August (Screen Rant gives 28 August) and had mostly finished its box-office run by mid-September. ColliderN “The movie was released at the end of August, and had mostly wrapped up its box-office run by mid-September.” Read at Collider ↗ Screen RantN “The Dog Stars was released in theaters on August 28.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 1It stars Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, with Margaret Qualley and Guy Pearce also in the cast. ColliderN “Starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin”“Also starring Margaret Qualley and Guy Pearce” Read at Collider ↗
Centre · 2The film grossed under $40 million worldwide (Screen Rant puts the figure at $39 million). Collider says it cost around $100 million to make, while Screen Rant cites a reported $110 million budget and says it needed roughly $220 million to $275 million to break even. ColliderN “which made under $40 million worldwide”“cost around $100 million to produce” Read at Collider ↗ Screen RantN “Based on a reported budget of $110 million, The Dog Stars needed to finish its box office run in the range of $220 million to $275 million in order to break even.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 2Reviews were mixed: the film holds a 41% Rotten Tomatoes score, with a consensus calling it "A derivative and drowsy tour through the post-apocalypse". Screen Rant says that is Scott's lowest critics' score since 2014's Exodus: Gods and Kings (29%). ColliderN “A derivative and drowsy tour through the post-apocalypse, The Dog Stars' lush visuals can't compensate for its listless narrative and underpowered pacing.” Read at Collider ↗ Screen RantN “holds Scott's worst critics' score for a movie he directed since 2014's Exodus: Gods and Kings, which sits at 29%” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 1Screen Rant reports that, citing FlixPatrol data, the film was the third most popular title on the US Apple TV Store's Top 20 Movies chart at the time of writing, behind Anne Hathaway's Verity in first place. It calls this a "redemption" after the disappointing theatrical run; chart position alone does not show revenue. Screen RantN “The Dog Stars stands as the 3rd most popular movie on the Apple TV Store's Top 20 Movies chart in the United States, as per data from FlixPatrol.”“Anne Hathaway's Verity in 1st” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Centre · 1Collider places the film in a run of Scott's recent commercial disappointments since The Martian (2015), including Napoleon, The Last Duel and Gladiator II, and compares it unfavourably with Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day. It adds that Scott has begun work on Treasure Island, starring Hugh Jackman, and has expressed interest in a direct follow-up to Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. ColliderN “He hasn't released a bona fide hit since 2015's The Martian”“Scott has commenced work on his upcoming epic, Treasure Island, starring Hugh Jackman.” Read at Collider ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both entertainment outlets treat the film as a box-office disappointment. Collider leads with the flop and Scott's declining record; Screen Rant leads with the film's strong early digital chart position.
- Emphasis
- Collider: budget, worldwide gross, Scott's run of misfires, upcoming projects. Screen Rant: Apple TV Store chart rank, break-even figures, Rotten Tomatoes score.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither gives digital sales or rental figures, so chart position is the only evidence of digital success. Neither quotes Scott, the studio or the cast.
- Charged language
- “sci-fi flop”“Instantly Finds Redemption”“digital hit”“disappointing theatrical run”
- For example
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“But that film — Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day — seems like a blockbuster compared to Scott's new sci-fi flop.” — Collider
“The Dog Stars becoming an instant US hit on digital is the absolute best-case scenario for a movie that needed that result” — Screen Rant
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The Dog Stars is a Ridley Scott sci-fi thriller starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin.
- It reached digital platforms on 27 October after a theatrical release in late August.
- It earned under $40 million worldwide and holds a 41% Rotten Tomatoes score.
- Its theatrical run is regarded as disappointing.
Where accounts differ
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Production budget
- Centre
- Collider says around $100 million; Screen Rant cites a reported $110 million.
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Meaning of the digital release
- Centre
- Collider calls the film a "flop" that did not capitalise on its theatrical window; Screen Rant calls its early Apple chart placing "redemption".
Ridley Scott person
Scott does not comment in the coverage. Collider says he has started work on Treasure Island with Hugh Jackman and has expressed interest in an Alien follow-up.
“He has also expressed interest in returning to the Alien franchise with a direct follow-up to Prometheus and Covenant.” — Collider
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Ridley Scott’s Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Thriller Officially Arrives on Digital
Critical Announces the digital release but mainly frames the film as another commercial failure in Scott's recent career.
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Ridley Scott's New Sci-Fi Thriller Instantly Finds Redemption As One Of Streaming's Biggest Movies
Celebratory Presents the film's high Apple TV Store chart position as a rebound from its theatrical failure, while noting the financial and critical shortfalls.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 25 Oct 13:00 First ColliderN Ridley Scott’s Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Thriller Officially Arrives on Digital
- 28 Oct 21:52 +80h 52m Screen RantN Ridley Scott's New Sci-Fi Thriller Instantly Finds Redemption As One Of Streaming's Biggest Movies
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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