Dune Part 2 might shake things up at the box office after the slow run it has seen since the end of last year. And the recent projections suggest Denis Villeneuve’s film might just surpass his long-time industry friend Christopher Nolan’s glimmering Oppenheimer numbers. The hype around the movie has been pretty significant, and it’s projected that Dune 2 will be much bigger than its predecessor. All in all, it is going to be a pretty exciting March.
Dune 2‘s Projected Numbers Are Off the Charts!
The highly anticipated Denis Villeneuve movie of the season, Dune Part 2, is eyeing an opening of $65M+ domestically according to Deadline. To compare its growth from Part 1, which opened at $41M, the progress is significant. Despite the pandemic and HBO streaming being factored in for the first part’s significantly low numbers, Dune 2 now has a fair chance of testing the waters and it has been performing admirably.
So much so that it might give Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer a run for its money. The presale of the movie is moving swiftly, and although Oppenheimer had an $82.4 million opening, Dune 2’s estimated $65M could eventually surge to $75M-$80M+ in the best-case scenario.
Not only in terms of its opening but also in overall earnings, Oppenheimer, which, alongside Barbie, is credited with reviving theaters and grossing $953M, could potentially be surpassed by the second installment of Dune, considering current projections and the enthusiasm surrounding the film. However, while it is tempting to speculate, only time will reveal whether Dune 2 can surpass one of 2023’s highest-grossing films.
The considerable anticipation surrounding Dune 2 indicates its potential to exceed projections and expectations and further establish itself as a formidable force at the box office. Braced by strong pre-sale figures and favorable word-of-mouth, all indications suggest a promising debut for Denis Villeneuve’s sequel.
Dune 2 Has Christopher Nolan’s Blessing!
The heightened anticipation surrounding the movie is fueled by none other than Christopher Nolan himself. Setting aside all the numbers and projections, Nolan is a true lover of cinema and, furthermore, a close friend of Denis Villeneuve. And since Tenet is coming back in select theaters on IMAX starting February 23rd, allowing audiences to revisit and marvel at the masterpiece once again. The director duo has undertaken one intriguing initiative and that is the film will also include exclusive footage from Dune 2 at the end, aimed at building excitement for its release.
This move has significantly hyped the fans up. Moreover, during a recent Q&A session at a Los Angeles screening of Tenet, Nolan compared Dune 2 to The Empire Strikes Back, if the Dune universe were to be Star Wars. With Nolan’s endorsement and the already electrifying atmosphere surrounding the movie, particularly the anticipation among Zendaya fans eager to see more of her this time around following previous disappointments, it appears to be a highly promising journey for the film.
Dune: Part Two opens in theaters on March 1st.
