One of the best sci-fi action blockbusters of all time is headed to Netflix for the new year. Released in 2021, Dune, aka Dune: Part One, is director Denis Villeneuve’s first foray into the epic world of seminal author Frank Herbert, and introduces audiences to the expansive universe of the distant future as it centers on the noble heir Paul Atreides as he and his family are tasked with taking charge of the hostile desert planet Arrakis.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve with a screenplay by Jon Spaihts, Villeneuve, and Eric Roth, Dune is led by Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, with the stellar supporting cast comprised of Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. You can check out the official synopsis for Dune below…
“Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to a 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 a precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.”
A Third ‘Dune’ Movie Is Set to Hit Theaters in 2026
Warner Bros.
The first Dune was met with widespread acclaim, landing a score of 83% from critics and an even better 90% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. While the former criticized the movie for occasionally struggling to adapt the scale of the source material, “those issues are largely overshadowed by the scope and ambition of this visually thrilling adaptation.” The latter, meanwhile, praised the sights and sounds of Dune and a story that “gets you hooked.”
Despite complications caused by the COVID pandemic and Warner Bros.’ same-day streaming release strategy, Dune still managed to gross $407.7 million at the global box office, with the sci-fi action epic going on to be nominated in 10 categories at the 94th Academy Awards, winning six, including Best Visual Effects and Best Original Score for Hans Zimmer.
A Dune sequel has since followed, with 2024’s Dune: Part Two adding the likes of Florence Pugh (Black Widow, Oppenheimer), Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter, Seven Psychopaths), Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die), and Austin Butler (Elvis, Caught Stealing) to the already stacked cast. The follow-up bested its predecessor at both the box office and with critics, grossing $714.4 million worldwide and boasting a score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes (alongside 95% from audiences).
The upcoming third outing, again directed by Denis Villeneuve, is now set for release, with Dune: Part Three due to be released in theaters on December 18, 2026. While we await the release of Dune: Part Three, you can remind yourself of the sheer brilliance of the first Dune when it lands on Netflix on January 1, 2026.
Release Date
September 15, 2021
Runtime
155 minutes
Producers
Herb Gains, John Harrison, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr., Mary Parent, Richard P. Rubinstein, Cale Boyter, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Joshua Grode
