It was a big weekend for box-office analysts and fans of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune alike, because the critically lauded science-fiction epic was opening in two of the most important territories when it comes to mining cash from cinema-goers, and with the fate of a concluding chapter on the line, it was something of a mixed result.
Let’s start with North-America, where even during pre-pandemic times huge science-fiction fare was hardly the stuff of box-office gold – Prometheus, Blade Runner 2049 – so the fact that a high-res copy of the film had leaked online days prior to release AND it was being simultaneously streamed on HBO Max meant that Dune was facing something of an uphill battle, or up one of those enormous Arrakis sized sand dunes, from the start. All of which makes $40M feel like a success, maybe?
The film has already amassed an impressive $180M from overseas territories, for a global total of $220M, but it will be the dual markets of the U.S., where the bean-counters have said that HBO Max streaming statistics will be taken into account, and China, that hold the fate of the further adventures of Paul Atreides and Co. Unfortunately in the latter market Dune only managed to muster up a relatively disappointing $21M.
Opening in the shadow of the all-conquering Chinese blockbuster Battle of Lake Changjin, which has amassed a whopping $821M domestic cume since opening a month ago, Villeneuve’s own epic only managed the 4th biggest opening for a Hollywood film in 2021, trailing F9, Free Guy and Godzilla vs. Kong. This Friday sees No Time to Die arrive in Chinese multiplexes, so it will be interesting to see what kind impact that will have on Dune‘s sophomore frame.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Dune here
So what does this all mean for the Dune franchise? There are so many caveats that it’s hard to make a prediction. There have been noises coming out of Warner Bros. indicating that a sequel isn’t wholly dependent on the box office, and the film has been performing well prior to this worldwide expansion. We’ll just have to let the sand settle and hope for the best.
Let us know what you think of Dune‘s box-office performance and whether you think we’ll get a ‘part two’ by heading to our social channels @FlickeringMyth….
A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Dune is directed by Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) and sees Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name) leading the cast alongside Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Fallout), Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Dave Bautista (Avengers: Infinity War), Stellan Skarsgard (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again), Charlotte Rampling (Red Sparrow), Zendaya (Spider-Man: Far From Home), Javier Bardem (Loving Pablo), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Fences), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Sex Education), and Chang Chen (The Assassin).
