The “Dune” sequel grossed $32.2 million on 809 Imax screens worldwide, but has not yet been released in Japan and China, according to an Imax news release.
These numbers give Dune Part 2 the best opening weekend of any film in 2024 so far. According to Warner Bros., this was the best opening ever for director Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Austin Butler.
The $81.5 million opening also nearly doubles the opening weekend of its predecessor, which earned $41 million upon its October 2021 release. This fast start puts it just behind “Oppenheimer,” which earned $82.4 million in its opening weekend last summer. Total domestic sales reached $329 million.
In Dune: Part 2, Chalamet's Paul Atreides and Zendaya's Chani team up to battle the villainous Harkonnen family, who are mining the desert and super-sandy planet of Arrakis for valuable spice ingredients. However, Paul, who is seen as a potential savior by a group of freedom fighters called the Fremen, struggles with the consequences of trying to lead those who believe in him.
The sequel is based on Frank Herbert's 1965 sci-fi blockbuster novel Dune, and was originally scheduled for release in the fall of 2023, but was postponed due to Hollywood strikes that limited promotional opportunities for the film.
Critics have widely praised the film, calling it a visual masterpiece with multiple layers of storytelling. In an overall positive review, Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post wrote that the film was packed with stunning visuals (and sand). Some have praised the film's cinematography and spectacular action scenes.
“This is truly one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time, packed with breathtaking imagery, stunning action, and a story that transcends the sci-fi genre,” wrote Rick Romancito of the Taos News. ing.
This multi-layered film has so far shown to be something of a pop culture event. Screenings across the country are packed from sunrise to sunset. A popcorn cup named after this movie has become a hot topic. And during its opening weekend, social media timelines and newsfeeds were flooded with speculation, commentary, memes, and theories about the movie.
All signs point to a third Dune movie being made, most likely based on Herbert's novel Dune Messiah as a sequel to the original book. Villeneuve has teased ending the story with a third movie, but has also hinted that it may take a while to finish the story. According to a report from tech news site Polygon, the rumored third film may not be released in theaters until 2030.