David Ayer’s career resurrection isn’t just underway — it’s in full stride. After a decade-long fall from grace following the critical and commercial collapse of Suicide Squad in 2016, the director has now delivered three consecutive crowd-pleasing hits that have quietly redefined his standing in Hollywood. The latest, Heart of the Beast, starring Brad Pitt, has grossed over $130 million worldwide in just three weeks, according to Collider, and is projected to cross $200 million globally. The film holds a Certified Fresh 84% critics’ score and a Verified Hot 94% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads: “A rigorously entertaining adventure story told through a spartan script and memorable set pieces, Heart of the Beast pays rousing tribute to man’s best friend.” It was made on a reported budget of $80 million. This marks Ayer’s most significant box office success since Fury (2014), which earned $210 million worldwide against an $80 million budget and remains a fan favourite with an 84% audience score. That film, too, starred Pitt alongside Shia LaBeouf, Jon Bernthal, Michael Peña, and Logan Lerman. The current project reunites them for the first time since then, but this time as co-stars in a survival thriller centered on a man stranded in the wild and his loyal dog. Ayer’s comeback began with The Beekeeper, which grossed more than $160 million and earned a 92% audience score. His follow-up, A Working Man, took things further with a 98% audience score and cemented his return as a reliable force in the action genre. While The Beekeeper will get a sequel next year, it won’t be directed by Ayer. With Heart of the Beast, he’s not just back, he’s leading again. And Pitt, fresh off the biggest hit of his career as a leading man in F1, has once again proven he knows how to pick the right projects at the right time. The film’s emotional core. Built around loyalty, endurance, and the unspoken bond between human and animal, has struck a chord with audiences. No official word yet on a follow-up, but Ayer’s momentum is undeniable. He’s already moving on to the next chapter.