Dune: Part Two has found its way to substantial box office success.
Written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two picks up right where Dune: Part One leaves off, continuing the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), adapting the second half of the classic 1965 novel by Frank Herbert. Paul ingratiates himself in the Fremen culture on Arrakis with the help of Chani (Zendaya) and seeks to lead their people to freedom while achieving revenge against the Harkonnens.
The film also stars Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem and others.
Total numbers, as reported on April 21, for the sci-fi epic from director Denis Villeneuve put the film at just under $700 million worldwide. Grossing $276 million in North America and $419 million overseas, the film brought its global total to $695 million after eight weeks in theaters. It's safe to assume that by the weekend's end, $700 million worldwide will be locked. It's currently the highest-grossing film of 2024, and the only one to cross the $700 million mark.
Reaching these heights is a feat in box office power in a post-COVID theatrical landscape. Only five movies in 2023, eight in 2022, and five in 2021 crossed the $700 million mark worldwide. Denis Villeneuve and the star-studded cast surrounding him have indeed cultivated the potential desert power the Duke Leto Atreides foresaw on the dunes of Arrakis.
These numbers come hot off the heels of Dune: Part Two returning to IMAX screens for an extended run in the premium format, starting on April 19. Audiences showed a tremendous desire to see the Timothée Chalamet-led epic on the biggest screens possible, with IMAX previously reporting a record-setting global market share of 22% of the film's global box office back in its second weekend.
The sand-swept sequel to 2021's Dune: Part One has had terrific holds in the weeks since its initial March 1 release and is a major step up in revenue from its predecessor's total cume of $433 million. There are several reasons to attribute to the film's resounding success. An A-list ensemble cast, phenomenal word of mouth, interest in premium format screens, and a singular vision from one of the best directors working today, brought to life by an incredible array of cast and crew make this a can't-miss event film. It also certainly doesn't hurt that until April 16, the film was playing exclusively in theaters, unlike Dune: Part One, which had a day-and-date release on HBO Max at the time of its release.
With the film released on digital formats on April 16, it'll be interesting to see how it continues to hold at the box office. If this initial weekend's return to IMAX screens is any indication, though, Dune: Part Two can expect the spice to continue to flow.
Dune: Part Two is currently playing in theaters and is also available to buy or rent digitally.