“Dune 2” is riding the giant sandworms to the top of the box office rankings.
Director Denis Villeneuve’s big-budget sequel made $81.5 million in its domestic premiere, providing a much-needed boost to ailing movie theaters. It’s the year’s highest opening weekend, and the biggest since Taylor Swift’s concert film “The Eras Tour” ($93 million) in October last year.
“This is an outstanding opening for a science-fiction [sequel],” says David A. Gross, a movie consultant at Franchise Entertainment Research. “Audiences are connecting with these human, vulnerable [characters].”
Boosted by great reviews and wonderful word-of-mouth (it has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and a “A” CinemaScore), “Dune 2” seems to have grown its popularity beyond sci-fi fans and exceeded expectations. Warner Bros., the company behind the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s famous 1965 book, had cautiously predicted a $65 million opening weekend, despite the fact that most box office analysts expected sales to exceed $80 million.
The sequel earned $97 million at the foreign box office, bringing its total to $178 million.
“It’s really permeated the culture,” according to “Dune” producer Mary Parent. “All signs point toward a long play.”
‘Dune 2’ Triumphs in Imax and PLFs, Commanding the Box Office with Record Sales
“Dune 2” is particularly popular in Imax and other premium big formats, as was the previous picture. PLFs, as they are called in the business, accounted for a staggering 48% of the film’s domestic earnings. Meanwhile, Imax generated $18.5 million in ticket sales, accounting for 23% of the market share. Demand for 70mm film, the director’s preferred medium, has been so great that some courageous audiences have resorted to 3:15 a.m. showtimes. (Yes, in the morning)
“Our most iconic film locations are virtually sold out for weeks,” says Rich Gelfond, CEO of Imax.
With interest in the more expensive PLF displays, “Part Two” seems to have the legs to justify its costly return to Arrakis, the desert planet. Legendary Entertainment co-produced and co-financed the picture, which cost $190 million to make and an additional $100 million to market to worldwide audiences. The sequel’s first ticket sales have greatly eclipsed those of the original “Dune,” which grossed $41 million in 2021 despite also debuting on HBO Max. “Part One” grossed $402 million worldwide, making it one of the studio’s rare financial successes during the pandemic-era hybrid release strategy.
The sequel was supposed to enter theaters last autumn, but it was pushed back to April due of the actors’ strike, which prohibited stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and the rest of the expansive, buzzy ensemble from promoting the film. The second “Dune” benefitted from pent-up demand, since there hasn’t been a blockbuster in weeks.
The opening weekend of “Dune 2,” which follows Warner’s fantasy musical “Wonka,” seems to cement Chalamet’s status as the rarest of species: a bankable leading man. Outsized financial achievements may put Villeneuve, with the probable exception of Christopher Nolan, as the director most equipped to provide the sorts of cerebral big-screen spectacles that can appeal to a broad audience.
“Audiences are responding to the combination of Denis Villeneuve’s ability to tell a story in an extraordinary way and the extraordinary cast,” says Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. “This is a moment for Timothée Chalamet.”
With “Dune 2” took up the bulk of the oxygen in multiplexes, other films in theaters competed for crumbs. In a distant second place, Paramount’s musical biography “Bob Marley: One Love” made $7.4 million from 3,390 cinemas. The film, featuring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the music great, has grossed an unexpected $82.7 million in North America and $146 million overseas.
‘Ordinary Angels’ and ‘Madame Web’ Battle for Spotlight, While ‘The Chosen’ Captivates Faithful Audiences
Hilary Swank’s inspiring film “Ordinary Angels” ranked third with $3.8 million from 3,020 locations. After two weeks on the big screen, the Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company picture has only grossed $12 million. However, “Ordinary Angels” is said to have a modest budget in the low double digits, which might help offset these disappointing earnings.
At No. 4, “Madame Web” continued to struggle, grossing $3.2 million from 3,116 locations. Sony’s “Spider-Man” spin-off, starring Dakota Johnson as a paramedic with psychic skills, cost $80 million but has grossed just $40 million domestically and $50 million overseas to far.
The faith-based TV series “The Chosen” finished out the top five, earning $3.1 million from 2,215 locations. Fathom Events is releasing Season 4 of the program exclusively in theaters in two-week runs, with Episodes 7 and 8 premiering this weekend. Ticket sales fell significantly behind episodes four through six, which took in $3.5 million. They fell precipitously from Episodes 1 to 3, which made $6 million at the outset and $14 million throughout the course of the series.Prior to this weekend, domestic box office revenue was 20% lower than the same time in 2023. However, with the release of “Dune 2,” the disparity narrowed to 13.5%, according to Comscore.
Must watch, Dune 2 sandstorm scene – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12n5APZhf4U
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