Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast earns strong early reviews

Brad Pitt’s survival thriller Heart of the Beast has drawn strong early reviews, with critics frequently praising the bond between Pitt’s character and Uber, the German Shepherd who plays his canine companion. The film held a 96 score on Rotten Tomatoes from 25 reviews at the time of reporting, ahead of its scheduled theatrical release on September 25, 2026. Directed by David Ayer, the film stars Pitt as James Belmont, a former Special Forces soldier stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with Odin, a military combat dog played by Uber. J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe also appear in the cast. Critics have described the story as both a survival adventure and an emotional account of companionship, with several singling out the connection between the man and dog as its central strength. Pitt spoke about working with Uber at a press conference in San Sebastian ahead of the film’s premiere there on Wednesday. He said the production tried to make each day a play day for the dog, and that some of Uber’s actions were unscripted but remained in the film. Pitt described the experience as moving and said the dog’s arrival on set lifted the mood among the crew.