Ridley Scott's new sci-fi film The Dog Stars has flopped at the box office, opening to just $8 million domestically and marking one of the weakest debuts of the veteran director's career. The result adds to a rocky recent run for the 87-year-old filmmaker, whose past few releases, including Napoleon, The Last Duel and the costly Gladiator II, have also struggled to turn a profit despite some strong revenues.

The film, starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley, was reportedly made on a $70 million budget and would need around $150 million worldwide just to break even once marketing costs are factored in. Its opening weekend haul was similar to that of the low-key action film Mutiny and was Scott's weakest since The Counselor in 2013. Reviews have also been lukewarm, with the film holding a 41% score on Rotten Tomatoes, whose critical consensus describes it as visually impressive but narratively "listless". Despite the setback, Scott remains active, with a Treasure Island adaptation already in the works.