Spider-Man Holds UK Lead as The Dog Stars Debuts in Fifth

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Source: Variety
Spider-Man Holds UK Lead as The Dog Stars Debuts in Fifth
Photo: Variety
TL;DR

Sony's 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' maintained its fifth consecutive week at the top of the U.K. and Ireland box office, earning £2.7 million. Universal's 'The Odyssey' held second place, while Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic drama 'The Dog Stars' debuted in fifth. Critics and stars debate the film's themes and performance.

Key points

  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day earned £2.7 million ($3.7 million) in its fifth week, reaching a total of $125.5 million.
  • The Odyssey added $3.2 million in its seventh week, bringing its cumulative total to $107.6 million.
  • The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, opened in fifth place with $1.4 million.
  • Insidious: Out of the Further secured third place with $1.8 million, while Coyote vs. Acme took fourth with $1.4 million.
  • Mubi's Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma achieved a joint-best hold among wide releases with a 39% drop.

Background

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has dominated the U.K. and Ireland box office since its release, consistently outperforming competitors like The Odyssey and The End of Oak Street. The Odyssey has shown strong longevity, remaining in the top two for seven weeks. The Dog Stars, based on Peter Heller's 2012 novel, was released in U.K. cinemas on August 28, 2026.

How outlets are covering it

Variety reports on the box office performance, highlighting Spider-Man's continued dominance and The Odyssey's steady earnings. BBC focuses on the thematic depth of The Dog Stars, with Jacob Elordi and Guy Pearce discussing the film's exploration of the human condition and climate change. Seven Days Vermont criticizes The Dog Stars for failing to capitalize on its source material, calling it a 'watch fit mainly for the dog days.' Yahoo's article, which appears to be a technical error page, does not provide substantive information on The Dog Stars' box office performance.

Why it matters

The sustained success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey indicates strong audience demand for blockbuster and epic films. The mixed reception of The Dog Stars highlights the challenges of adapting literary works to film, particularly when the source material has a slow-burn tone that may not align with Hollywood's action-oriented expectations.

What to watch

The upcoming theatrical frame includes wide debuts for The Death of Robin Hood and Leviticus, along with specialized releases like Late Fame and Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon. Disney will re-release Cars for its 20th anniversary on September 5, and Dogwoof will debut the sports documentary Lomu on September 7.

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