Brad Pitt and director David Ayer have reunited for a new survival drama that’s already being touted as one of the must-see films of the year.
Coming together twelve years after their collaboration on Fury, Pitt and Ayer have teamed up on Heart of the Beast. The film follows army veteran James Belmont (played by Pitt) and his devoted canine companion Odin — portrayed on-screen by a German Shepherd named Uber — as they struggle to stay alive after a plane wreck in the brutal Alaskan backcountry. With the film’s release imminent, early critical reaction has started to roll in, and consensus among reviewers is overwhelmingly favorable.
Heart of the Beast currently holds a 96% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it Pitt’s highest-scoring film in which he stars. That figure nudges past the 95% rating earned by 2013’s 12 Years a Slave, a project in which Pitt served in a supporting capacity. The new thriller also rates higher than several other celebrated Pitt vehicles, including Moneyball (94%), True Romance (93%), and The Big Short (89%). Pitt does have credits on films with higher Rotten Tomatoes scores, but those instances are limited to projects where he was an executive producer rather than the lead.
The film is also a personal best for Ayer: Heart of the Beast surpasses the long-standing 85% mark held by End of Watch (2012), making it his highest-rated picture to date. That Rotten Tomatoes number is based on 24 reviews at the moment, so it could move as more critics weigh in, but the early response appears largely positive.
Among reviewers, many have highlighted the movie’s emotional core—especially the bond between Belmont and his dog—and the performance of the canine actor. While a few critics felt the melodramatic tone and the resolution were uneven, most praise the film’s ability to deliver an affecting, tear-inducing experience.
A ScreenRant evaluation by Alexander Harrison notes that although the screenplay occasionally resorts to “storytelling shortcuts,” the film becomes gripping once it builds momentum, ultimately delivering an emotional peak that lands hard. The performances are credited with lending weight to the human-animal relationship, with Odin/Uber singled out for bringing a palpable, soulful presence to the role.
Several reviews describe the ending as straightforward yet devastating in its impact, and at least one critic awarded the film a 6 out of 10, saying the finale provides a well-earned cathartic release. That mix—some reservations about melodrama coupled with strong emotional payoff—seems to characterize much of the reaction so far.
Early box-office forecasts put Heart of the Beast’s opening weekend in the neighborhood of $15 million to $25 million. If those projections hold, the film would launch comparably to other recent David Ayer releases such as The Beekeeper ($16.5 million) and A Working Man ($15.5 million). Still, Heart of the Beast will face stiff competition: it opens on a busy September weekend that also includes the A24 titles Primetime (which has earned roughly a 90% critics’ score) and Forgotten Island (currently at 100%). Both of those films have attracted strong critical approval, which could affect audience choices.
Pitt’s most recent leading role before Heart of the Beast was in last year’s F1: The One, a major commercial success for Apple TV that also received four Academy Award nominations. Later this year, Pitt is set to return to a familiar character: he will reprise Cliff Booth for the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth. That film, directed by David Fincher for Netflix, is slated for a November theatrical release followed by a streaming debut on December 23.
Heart of the Beast was produced by Ayer and Pitt, and the screenplay was adapted from a story by Cameron Alexander, which appeared on the 2017 Black List as one of the most admired unproduced scripts. The supporting cast includes J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe.
Key Rotten Tomatoes standings for Pitt’s top starring films (critics’ scores):
– Heart of the Beast (2026): 96% (audience score not yet available)
– 12 Years a Slave (2013): 95% — audience 90%
– Moneyball (2011): 94% — audience 86%
– True Romance (1993): 93% — audience 93%
– The Big Short (2015): 89% — audience 88%
Heart of the Beast opens in theaters on September 25, 2026.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
