Dune: Part Two

Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two was released this March and absolutely blew audiences away. Picking up Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) journey, the sequel delivers incredible cinematography, edge-of-your-seat action, and compelling conflicts. Chalamet gives a fantastic performance, but he’s not the only one. His co-stars Zendaya, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson and Florence Pugh are all scene-stealers. This film is a career-defining achievement for Villeneuve, one that will undoubtedly be remembered as a sci-fi classic. I was genuinely shocked by how perfect it is when I saw it in theaters — twice.

Though the Dune fandom had been around for decades because of the original book series, Dune: Part Two brought both longtime fans and newcomers together in such a special way. The first film was a hit, but I don’t think anyone could’ve anticipated just how incredible the sequel would be as a cinematic experience. Seeing it in theaters was hands down the best moment for the fandom. Walking out of the theater, audiences couldn’t help but smile as they processed the greatness they’d just seen … and most likely immediately bought a ticket to experience it again.

The fact that so many fans turned out to see Dune: Part Two in theaters — and multiple times at that — is shifting the way we see blockbusters. Surpassing $700 million globally, the sequel has become one of the highest-grossing films of the year, reminding studios that the theatergoing experience still matters. While Dune: Part Two is packed with action, it’s far from your typical blockbuster. The cinematography and visual effects are next-level, creating an immersive experience you just can’t replicate at home — or even with most other theatrical experiences, for that matter. The fandom has shown that this kind of filmmaking matters, and audiences will pay money to see it.