is a 2024 American epic space opera film directed by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts, based on the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. It is the second installment of Villeneuve's Dune film trilogy and follows Paul Atreides as he unites with the Fremen people of the desert planet Arrakis to wage war against House Harkonnen. The film stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, and includes new cast members Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV, and Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring.
The film premiered at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City on February 6, 2024, and was released in the United States on March 1, 2024. It received widespread critical acclaim, earning a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 8.4/10 on IMDb. The film grossed $715 million worldwide, becoming the seventh highest-grossing film of 2024, and was recognized with numerous accolades, including five nominations at the 97th Academy Awards, winning Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. It also won two BAFTAs and received two Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.
The story continues Paul Atreides' journey as he embraces Fremen culture, learns their language, rides a sandworm, and leads raids against the Harkonnens. After a devastating attack on the northern Fremen by Feyd-Rautha, Paul drinks the Water of Life, awakens from a coma with prescient visions, and discovers the truth about his mother Jessica’s Bene Gesserit lineage and the orchestrated plan to create the Kwisatz Haderach. He ultimately challenges the Emperor, defeats the Baron, and becomes a messianic figure, though his ascension comes at the cost of his relationship with Chani, who chooses to leave him.
Dune: Part Three, the final film in the trilogy based on Frank Herbert’s 1969 novel Dune Messiah, is currently in production and scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. The film is available for streaming on platforms such as Apple TV, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix, with a 4K Ultra HD and digital release also available.
Factsheet
Jon Spaihts
by Frank Herbert
Jon Spaihts
by Frank Herbert
Dune 2 was strangely disappointing
Dune Part Two is a mess
The Harkonnens in the opening of part 2 sure were loud, but I have a theory as to why....and other theories/questions : dune
Official Discussion - Dune: Part Two [SPOILERS]
This is probably an unpopular take, but I am not posting to be contrarian or edgy. Despite never reading or watching any of the previous Dune works, I really enjoyed part 1. I was looking forward to part 2, without having super high expextations or anything. And yet, the movie disappointed me and I really didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
I haven't found many people online sharing this sentiment, so I am hoping for some input on the following criticism here.
The first point might seem petty or unfair, but I felt like Dune 2 didn't expand on the universe or world in a meaningful way. For a sci-fi series, that is a bit disappointing IMO. The spacecraft, weapons, sandworms, buildings, armor etc are basically all already known. We also don't really get a lot of scenes outside of Dune, aside from the Harkonnen planet (?). For a series titled "Dune" that totally makes sense, but it also makes Part 2 seem a lot less intriguing and "new" than part 1.
The characters. Paul and Chani don't seem that convincing sadly. Paul worked in Part 1 as someonenstill trying to find his way, but he doesn't convince me as an imposing leader. He is not charismatic enough IMO. Chani just seems a bit one dimensional. And all the Harkonnen seem comically evil. Which worked better gor Part 1 when they were still new, but having the same characters (plus the new na-baron, who is also similarly sadistic, evil, cruel etc.) still the same without any change is just not that interesting. The emperor felt really flat as well. Part 1 worked better here because Leto was a lot more charismatic.
The movie drags a lot. I feel like the whole interaction with the various fremen, earning their trust, overcoming inner conflict etc could've been told just as well in a movie of 2 hours.
The story overall seemed very straightforward and frankly not that interesting. Part 1 was suspenseful, betrayal and then escape. But Part 2 seemed like there were no real hurdles to overcome aside from inner conflict, which doesn't translate well. For the most part, the fremen were won over easily. Paul succeeded at everything and barely faced a real challenge. It never seemed like he might fail to me. So it was basically just, collect the tribes, attack, win. The final battle was very disappointing as well. It was over before it began and there was almost no resistance.
Some plot points and decisions by characters also seemed a bit questionable to me. I don't understand the Harkonnen not using their aerial superiority more to attack the fremen without constantly landing and engaging in melee combat. Using artillery to destroy fremen bases seems obvious. I also don't really get the emperor randomly landing with a giant army on foot in the middle of the desert. Don't they have space ships or other aerial vehicles? I get that he is trying to find Paul, but what's the point of having thousands of foot soldiers out in the open?
I also realize some of this might due to the source material, but I am judging the movie as I experienced it, regardless of whose ideas or decisions it is based on.
The first one is better, and the first one isn’t that great. This one’s pacing is so rushed, and frankly messy, the texture of the books is completely flattened [or should I say sanded away (heh)], the structure doesn’t create any buy in emotionally with the arc of character relationships, the dialogue is corny as hell, somehow despite being rushed the movie still feels interminable as we are hammered over and over with the same points, telegraphed cliched foreshadowing, scenes that are given no time to land effectively, even the final battle is boring, there’s no build to it, and it goes by in a flash.
Hyperactive film-making, and all the plaudits speak volumes to the contemporary psyche/media-literacy/preference. A failure as both spectacle and storytelling. It’s proof that Villeneuve took a bite too big for him to chew. This deserved a defter touch, a touch that saw dune as more than just a spectacle, that could tease out the different thematic and emotional beats in a more tactful and coherent way.