Even before 2026 is over, it’s been a fantastic year for science fiction films. With Christopher Nolan—a leading director—shifting gears to a fantasy story, other talented filmmakers have continued to deliver high-quality sci-fi, exploring themes of space, aliens, and the end of the world. Now, with Nolan’s return just a month away, expectations are incredibly high.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller achieved a major success with their science fiction film, Project Hail Mary. Starring Ryan Gosling and based on Andy Weir’s novel, the movie earned $684 million, making it Amazon MGM’s biggest hit and one of the top five highest-grossing films of the year. Thanks to positive reviews and potential Oscar nominations, Project Hail Mary set a high bar for sci-fi films in 2026.
Following that success, Steven Spielberg revisited science fiction with Disclosure Day, which was also well-received by critics and earned over $230 million globally. There are still more sci-fi films coming out this year, including Dune: Part Three from Denis Villeneuve in December. But fans won’t have to wait long for another classic sci-fi director to release a new film.
Next month, director Ridley Scott returns to science fiction with his new film, The Dog Stars. The movie, which is a post-apocalyptic survival story, arrives in theaters on August 28th. While known for classics like Alien and Blade Runner, Scott promises this film will be a unique experience. He even states it’s the best movie he’s made in years, making The Dog Stars a film to watch.
Ridley Scott Called The Dog Stars His Best Movie Since The Martian
With the release of his new film, The Dog Stars, director Scott has been repeatedly questioned about what audiences can anticipate. The movie features Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley as characters trying to survive in a world changed by a major pandemic. Scott seems very confident about this project, even stating it’s the best film he’s made in over a decade.
In a recent interview with The Buyer, director Scott stated that his new film is likely his best work since The Martian, which premiered in 2015. The Martian was a significant achievement – a blockbuster earning $630 million, with a 91% approval rating from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and seven Academy Award nominations. While Scott has since directed several well-received films, The Martian remains his most recent successful venture into the science fiction genre.
Scott has set a high bar for his new film, comparing it to The Dog Stars and The Martian. He once suggested The Dog Stars might be his best work, but The Martian is generally considered one of his strongest. By making that comparison, he’s essentially saying his new sci-fi thriller needs to be really good to measure up, and perhaps he’s trying to temper excitement a little.
Ridley Scott’s Claim Gives The Dog Stars High Expectations
Since making The Martian and before The Dog Stars, Scott has been consistently working, directing six films. While none have reached the same level of acclaim as The Martian, several have proven successful and are popular with audiences.
Scott insists that The Dog Stars is superior to several popular films, including Alien: Covenant, All the Money in the World, The Last Duel, House of Gucci, Napoleon, and the recently released Gladiator II. Most of these movies have been well-received by audiences, and some were even nominated for Academy Awards.
| Ridley Scott Movies After The Martian | ||
|---|---|---|
| Movie (Year) | RT Scores | Box Office |
| Alien: Covenant (2017) | 65% / 55% | $240.8 million |
| All the Money in the World (2017) | 79% / 66% | $56.9 million |
| The Last Duel (2021) | 85% / 81% | $30.5 million |
| House of Gucci (2021) | 62% / 83% | $153.2 million |
| Napoleon (2023) | 58% / 58% | $222.4 million |
| Gladiator II (2024) | 70% / 80% | $462.1 million |
Instead of simply adding another film to Scott’s impressive body of work, The Dog Stars now faces the pressure of surpassing his previous successes. While opinions on those films vary, Scott has consistently delivered both popular and critically praised movies, earning him box office hits, awards, and widespread recognition.
Now it’s up to The Dog Stars to achieve the same success as The Martian – becoming a hit with both audiences and critics, and gaining industry recognition. This will likely happen only if Scott was correct in believing the movie is exceptionally well-made and impossible to overlook.
2026-07-28 18:28