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Brad Pitt decided he wanted an open-air venue for the Global Premiere of “Heart of the Beast”, so First Bank Amphitheater in Franklin, TN turned blue on September 16, 2026, to host the debut.
The survivalist story features only three cast members, although we should also count the dog and the nature of the Alaskan Wilderness, because they are equally major players.
“From acclaimed filmmaker David Ayer, Heart of the Beast is an intense adventure thriller that explores the unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend as they face their greatest battle yet.”
Heart of the Beast Honest Review
The dog doesn’t die! But is Heart of the Beast worth seeing in theaters?
Here’s my honest, spoiler-free review of Brad Pitt’s new survival thriller, Heart of the Beast. I saw the film ahead of its theatrical release at the global premiere in Franklin, Tennessee, and while there was a lot I appreciated about it, I’m not sure I loved it as much as everyone around me seemed to.
Heart of the Beast is essentially Brad Pitt, a dog and the wilderness. Pitt plays James Belmont, a Special Forces officer who survives a plane crash with his combat dog, Odin, leaving the two of them fighting to survive in the Alaskan wilderness.
And yes, for everyone wondering before buying a ticket: THE DOG LIVES. I don’t consider that a spoiler because they literally had shirts at the premiere saying it! 😂
The cinematography is beautiful, the acting is strong and Brad Pitt essentially has to carry the entire movie. Director David Ayer has talked about nature being another character in the film, which made the outdoor global premiere at FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, Tennessee, especially fitting.
But those of you who know my movie reviews know I don’t always agree with the crowd. For me, there were one too many “Really?” moments where the survival story started losing its believability. And despite hearing people say there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, I didn’t cry…which is saying something because I cry at A LOT of movies!
Was it sweet and poignant? Yes. Was it beautifully filmed and well acted? Absolutely. Would I see it again? No.
My verdict: It was fine.
If you love survival movies, wilderness adventures and especially movies about the bond between humans and animals, Heart of the Beast may be exactly your kind of movie.
Heart of the Beast stars Brad Pitt as James Belmont alongside J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe, with German shepherd Uber playing Odin. The film is directed by David Ayer and written by Cameron Alexander. Heart of the Beast is rated PG-13, runs approximately 1 hour 41 minutes and opens exclusively in theaters Friday, September 25, 2026.
P.S. Brad loved the “vibes” of Nashville, so with any luck, we’ll be hosting more events like this in the future!
