Actor Jacob Elordi is facing a rare career setback after his latest blockbuster movie, The Dog Stars, received harsh reviews from critics ahead of its nationwide release this week.
The post-apocalyptic drama, directed by Ridley Scott, debuted on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes with a score of just 38 percent. The low rating makes the feature one of the worst reviewed major studio releases of the year so far.
Set in the aftermath of a devastating flu pandemic, the storyline follows a former pilot, played by Elordi, who leaves his safe zone behind to search for a better life after picking up a mysterious radio transmission. The star-studded film co-stars Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, and Allison Janney.
Critical reaction to The Dog Stars
Film critics were scathing in their initial reviews of the movie. The Daily Beast wrote, 'No amount of aesthetic splendor can compensate for the derivativeness of the director’s latest, a post-apocalyptic yarn that’s stitched together from the decomposing parts of its genre ancestors.'
'The Dog Stars is a strange, misbegotten beast, a post-apocalyptic drama worse for wear even before the bandits arrive,' wrote The A.V. Club in its review.
Review site RogerEbert.com was equally blunt, stating, 'This wasteland narrative is the most tedious film of Ridley Scott’s career.'
Despite the widespread criticism, several media outlets offered positive assessments of Scott's latest effort. Polygon praised the project, writing, 'Ridley Scott piles on epic action set pieces and surreal, surprising sequences that sometimes push the film from prestige drama into absurdist spectacle.'
Screen Daily also highlighted the director's character-driven approach, writing, 'Even though The Dog Stars can be wobbly in its execution, Scott’s affection for his main characters gives the story an understated warmth.'
Scott is an acclaimed British film director known for landmark cinematic works such as Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator. His newest release represents a rare critical stumble in a legendary career spanning several decades in Hollywood.
Box office hits and award recognition
The mixed reception comes during a period of significant professional momentum for Elordi. The actor has enjoyed a string of back-to-back hits in recent years, including prominent roles in Frankenstein and the hit television drama Euphoria.
He previously achieved widespread commercial success after starring in the box office hits Wuthering Heights and Saltburn. In addition to his commercial achievements, Elordi earned critical acclaim and a string of award nominations for his role as the monster in Guillermo Del Toro's adaptation of Frankenstein.
Elordi, who was born in Brisbane, Australia, first rose to prominence starring in teen romance films before establishing himself as a leading man in major Hollywood dramas and prestige television projects.
Relationship timeline with Kendall Jenner
The film's release comes just months after Elordi and supermodel Kendall Jenner went public with their high-profile romance. The couple officially confirmed their relationship in April when they were glimpsed passionately kissing at the afterparty for Justin Bieber's Coachella performance.
Their romance began after they were set up by Jenner's younger sister, Kylie Jenner. In the months following their public debut, the couple traveled together to Hawaii and Japan, even going viral on TikTok after fans spotted them holding hands on the streets of Tokyo.
By May, the pair were seen drinking rosé together on a beach in Hawaii as their romance continued to draw global attention from media outlets and fans alike.
Jenner is a prominent American model and media personality who gained global fame appearing on her family's reality television show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where the pair made their debut, is an annual music event held in Indio, California.
Matchmaking and London hotel stay
The couple recently traveled to London to attend the red carpet premiere event for The Dog Stars on Thursday. During their visit to the United Kingdom, they enjoyed a glamorous dinner at Cipriani alongside Elordi's father, John.
To mark the trip, reports revealed that Elordi booked the $82,000-a-night penthouse suite at the historic London hotel Claridge's for himself and Jenner in an effort to impress her.
'Jacob's a proper romantic and he wanted Kendall to have that amazing view over London where you can see the stars,' an insider told The Sun. The source added, 'The upgrade was worth the money.'
Insiders previously reported via Deuxmoi that the couple were 'making out and all over each other' while attending Bieber's Coachella afterparty in April.
An insider exclusively told the Daily Mail that the couple had actually been dating 'as far back as early February' thanks to matchmaking efforts from Kylie. At that time, Kylie's boyfriend Timothée Chalamet was running a best actor Oscar campaign for his role as an underground ping pong champion in Marty Supreme, also referred to as Marty Mauser.
'Kylie was around Jacob a lot during Timothée's award season marathon because Jacob was nominated for Frankenstein and Timothée was nominated for Marty Supreme,' the source explained to the Daily Mail. 'Kylie is the alpha sister and pushed Kenny to start a romance with Jacob because she wanted to set up double dates with Timothée.'
The insider added: 'Kenny's house is where all the parties happen, a lot of action there, so the four of them got close there,' divulging that 'Kenny found out she just clicked with Jacob... there was chemistry.'
Prior to their public debut, Jenner and Elordi were seen in rapt conversation at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Hollywood in March, which initially triggered a wave of romance rumors among fans.
Past relationships and romantic history
Before dating Jenner, Elordi was linked to several high-profile figures. His dating history includes Lori Loughlin's daughter Olivia Jade, who rose to infamy during the college admissions scandal, as well as Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber and his The Kissing Booth co-star Joey King.
Jenner has also dated several well-known celebrities. She previously dated music star Bad Bunny for about a year before splitting up in late 2023, briefly rekindling their romance in 2024 before separating again.
Represented by The Society Management modeling agency, Jenner previously developed a reputation for dating high-profile professional athletes, including NBA basketball players Blake Griffin, Devin Booker, and Ben Simmons.
