Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic thriller "The Dog Stars" stars Jacob Elordi as Hig, a survivor navigating a world devastated by a killer virus in 2035, with the film praised as a showcase for Elordi's growing skill as a leading man. Despite its title, the film centres less on the dog Jasper and more on Hig's search for remnants of humanity and hope, alongside co-stars Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce and Margaret Qualley, marking a notable awards-season entry for Scott and his cast.

Hig lives on a deserted Colorado airstrip with his dog Jasper and fellow survivor Bangley (Brolin), a distrustful military veteran who fends off violent gangs called Reapers, while Hig clings to the belief that civilian life still exists beyond the mountains near Grand Junction. The story, adapted by screenwriter Mark L. Smith from Peter Heller's 2012 novel, sees Hig crash-land near a farmhouse occupied by Pops (Pearce) and his daughter Cima (Qualley), leading to a tense alliance, a large action set-piece involving a repaired Cessna plane, and an eventual journey to Grand Junction. The review highlights strong performances, particularly from Elordi and Brolin, and notes the film prioritises character development over its action sequences, with Italy standing in for Colorado during filming.