Is Dune 2 An All-Time Sci-Fi Masterpiece? 10 Biggest Takeaways From Glowing Reviews

The first reviews for Dune: Part Two have been overwhelmingly positive, raising the question of whether the highly-anticipated film is an upcoming sci-fi masterpiece. Directed by 2021’s Dune director Denis Villeneuve, who has been celebrated for his acclaimed works such as Sicario (2015), Arrival (2016), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Dune: Part Two expands on the first blockbuster hit, which generated nearly $435 million at the worldwide box office. The film stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides and is based on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert.

Chalamet leads an outstanding ensemble cast which includes a surprise appearance from Anya Taylor-Joy. Dune: Part Two had initially been scheduled to be released in late 2023, which would have put it in the running for the upcoming 96th Academy Awards that take place on March 10, 2024. Due to delays from 2023’s joint WGA and SAG strikes, Dune 2 was pushed back to March 1, 2024, which could actually work out better for its awards season potential this time next year. The highly positive reviews for Dune: Part Two set it up to become the first must-see movie-going event of 2024.

10 Dune 2 Is Already Being Called One Of The Best Sci-Fi Films Ever Made

Dune 2 is rated higher than many sci-fi classics on Rotten Tomatoes

Early reviews of Dune: Part Two have generated a remarkable 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, soaring past the 83% mark of 2021’s Dune. This 97% Rotten Tomatoes score has already paced it in an extremely elite category alongside Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Metropolis (1927), and Portrait of A Lady on Fire (2019). Dune 2’s critic score has placed it ahead of sci-fi classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Back to the Future (1985), Blade Runner (1982), and Star Wars: A New Hope (1977).

9 Dune: Part Two Features An Iconic & Outstanding Ensemble Cast

The talented cast of Dune: Part Two is remarkable and will be remembered as one of the best film ensembles ever assembled. Apart from Chalamet and Taylor-Joy, Dune: Part Two will star Academy Award winner Javier Bardem, Academy Award winner Christopher Walken, Emmy Award winner Zendaya, Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin, Academy Award nominee Austin Butler, Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh, Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling, and Emmy Award nominee Stellan Skarsgård. A-listers Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, and Léa Seydoux also star in Dune 2.

8 Dune 2’s Spectacular Visual Effects Are Impressive & Breathtaking

The massive sandworms in Dune 2 will stun and terrify audiences

One of the most common praises for Dune: Part Two is its breathtaking display of visual effects. With an added emphasis on the action elements in Dune 2, there will certainly be a feast for the eyes in the blockbuster movie, which will make it enthralling to watch from a mere spectacle standpoint. The massive production budget of $190 million, which is not much higher than Dune’s $165 million, seemingly went into creating even more impressive visual effects that have been said to cause dazzling and awe-inspiring reactions.

7 Dune: Part Two Is Being Heralded As Denis Villeneuve’s Best Work

Dune 2 could become the acclaimed director’s magnum opus

Denis Villeneuve is a highly experienced director who arguably hasn’t made one bad film. He has been nominated for 3 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Dune and Best Director for Arrival, which was nominated for 8 total Academy Awards. Villeneuve also made the celebrated yet underrated Blade Runner sequel Blade Runner 2049 starring Ryan Gosling as well as Sicario, which was nominated for 3 Oscars. As it currently stands, Dune: Part Two is Villeneuve’s highest-rated film and could become his magnum opus.

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6 Dune 2’s Epic Battle Scenes Draw Comparisons To The Lord Of The Rings

Dune 2’s battle scenes could rival some of the best ever done

The magnitude and scale of Dune 2’s battle scenes have already drawn comparison to the epic scenes in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Critics have widely applauded the sheer impact and coordination of such massive battle scenes that were captured with an expertise that only a director such as Villeneuve could effectively master. The Lord of the Rings trilogy has produced some of the greatest battle scenes ever put to film, which sets an extremely high bar that Dune 2 apparently lives up to.

5 Dune: Part Two Is A Masterclass In Every Aspect Of Filmmaking

Dune 2 is exceptional in every category

Dune 2 is being celebrated for its level of expertise on every level of filmmaking, from its writing and cinematography to its costume and musical score. Critics agree that it makes for a completely immersive viewing experience that will have audiences hooked from start to finish. The film is so well-orchestrated that it should be studied and the complexity of Dune 2’s design is what apparently makes the upcoming blockbuster so outstanding. It should make an impressive push at next year’s Academy Awards.

4 Dune 2 Has Richer Plot & Character Developments Than Dune 1

Dune 2 thoughtfully expands on its characters and plot

One notable improvement that critics have spotted between Dune and Dune: Part Two is the well-crafted growth of its plot and characters. While Dune does a great job at introducing the world of the story and establishing the central players and conflict, Dune 2 has more time to dive into the characters in rich and fulfilling ways. This ultimately makes the film’s returning characters more multifaceted and nuanced while leaving room for newcomers to add to its complex story.

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3 Dune: Part Two Has An Exhilarating Pace Despite A Lengthy Runtime

Dune 2 has a swift and adrenaline-fueled pace

Much like 2023’s Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon, Dune: Part Two is paced so well that its lengthy runtime is hardly felt while watching it. Dune 2’s total runtime is 2 hours and 46 minutes, 2 minutes shorter than 2021’s Dune. If some viewers felt that Dune was too long, this should not be the case in Dune: Part Two, as some critics have gone so far as to say they wish the Dune sequel was longer than its nearly 3-hour runtime.

2 Dune 2 Is Being Praised As A Modern-Day Empire Strikes Back

Christopher Nolan likened Dune 2 to the Star Wars epic

Critics truly love Dune: Part Two to the point where comparisons to Star Wars: Episode V –The Empire Strikes Back are already being made. Even Christopher Nolan likened Dune: Part Two to The Empire Strikes Back, which is just about the greatest endorsement the film could ever receive. If Dune 2 really is on that level, then it will undoubtedly be heralded as one of the best sci-fi movies ever made and a certified masterpiece by Villeneuve.

1 Dune: Part Two Must Be Watched On The Biggest Screen Possible

Dune 2 could become a monumental movie theater experience

If there’s one thing for certain about Dune 2, it is that it should be seen on the largest possible screen while it’s playing in theaters. The nearly unanimous praise for Dune 2 is setting it up to be one of the greatest movie theater experiences since 2023’s Oppenheimer, and perhaps even better. With less than 2 weeks until the highly anticipated release of Dune: Part Two, the critical reception has set the stage for what could become one of the most groundbreaking movie releases of the 21st century.

Dune: Part Two

Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film that covers the novel’s events by Frank Herbert. The movie continues the quest of Paul Atreides on a journey of revenge against those who slew his family. With insight into the future, Atreides may be forced to choose between his one true love and the universe’s fate. 

Release Date

March 1, 2024

Studio(s)

Legendary Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Budget

$122 Million