Denis Villeneuve’s eagerly anticipated “Dune: Part Two” kicks off with a formidable start, raking in a substantial $12 million from over 3,400 theaters in previews. Imax screenings contribute a significant $4.5 million to this impressive total.
Projections for the epic sci-fi sequel’s opening weekend range between $70 million to $80 million, with some estimates soaring as high as $90 million. Such a debut would mark the most substantial box office opening since last year’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” which amassed $80 million.
The preview earnings outshine its predecessor, “Dune: Part One,” which garnered $5.1 million in previews amid its simultaneous release in theaters and on HBO Max during the pandemic. “Part One” debuted with $41 million and went on to accumulate $402 million globally, standing out as one of the pandemic era’s rare box office triumphs.
Returning with a stellar cast including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Josh Brolin, “Dune: Part Two” picks up the narrative approximately two and a half years after the original release in fall 2021. Chalamet’s Paul Atreides embarks on a perilous journey evading the villainous Harkonnen clan on the treacherous desert world of Arrakis. Alongside his allies, he confronts challenges, forms alliances, and engages in a monumental battle against the Harkonnens.
The sequel boasts an expanded cast featuring newcomers such as Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, and Anya Taylor-Joy, adding depth to Frank Herbert’s richly layered universe.
Amid a relatively subdued box office landscape, “Dune: Part Two” emerges as a much-needed boost for cinema establishments. With overwhelmingly positive reviews, the film presents a cinematic experience unparalleled in its scale and ambition, embodying a pivotal moment for the industry’s post-pandemic recovery. As Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge remarks, “The fate of far more than Arrakis is riding on ‘Dune.'”