Dune has been playing in several overseas locations for weeks now, but Denis Villeneuve's critically-acclaimed sci-fi epic is finally set to hit theaters in the U.S. this weekend, when it will also be available to stream on HBO Max.
This day-and-date release has led to concern that the movie, which only adapts Part 1 of Frank Herbert's novel, may not make enough at the box office for Warner Bros. to greenlight a sequel, but the latest updates are very encouraging.
DUNE Review: Denis Villeneuve's Otherworldly Tour De Force Is Jaw-Dropping Cinema
Deadline reports that Dune looks set to for a global opening in the $70M+ range, which includes China and 40 other overseas markets. Domestically, the movie is tracking towards $30M-$35M, but exhibitors have indicated that presales "are squashing everything that’s come before it, i.e. No Time to Die, and Marvel's Shang-Chi."
Dune has taken in $129.3 million since it opened internationally last month.
Estimates could be off, of course, especially in the current climate, but this is definitely a positive sign that Villeneuve will be given the opportunity to return to Arrakis and finish this story.
Do you guys plan on seeing Dune at the theater, or on HBO Max? We'd highly recommend the former, because this is one movie you don't want to miss on the big screen.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.