Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part 2 is fast approaching, and fans certainly cannot wait to see the continuation of the Frank Herbert novel’s big-screen adaptation. Some of the most notable features of the movie are the settings, costumes, and star-studded cast, which many would believe too expensive to make.
It’s actually more cost-effective than Marvel Studios’ The Marvels. Fans would remember how the infamous box-office bomb starring Brie Larson gave an underwhelming performance despite its lucrative marketing.
Dune Part 2 Budget And Potential Box Office Success
According to Variety, Timothée Chalamet’s Dune Part 2 reportedly cost $190 million. The hype around the movie is already gaining momentum so it’s not impossible if it performs well, if not better, just like its predecessor. Dune (2021) grossed over $402 million against a budget of $165 million.
Franchise Entertainment Research’s David A. Gross claimed if the sequel appeals to the critics and the fans, it will become a surefire box office hit.
“Assuming that audiences and critics like it, this is going to have an outstanding opening. The first film was slowed by the pandemic and simultaneous availability on streaming.”
Indeed, if the original Dune was released during a non-pandemic period, the figures would have been higher, so the second film has more chances of doing that this time. With its strategic budget and not going overboard, Dune Part 2 might emerge as a profitable project.
Shawn Robbins, the chief analyst of Boxoffice Pro, says the fame of Chalamet and Zendaya can pull more viewers:
“Sci-fi can be tricky to make appealing outside of its core demographic. [But] word-of-mouth from the first will help to grow the audience.”
In terms of movie formats, Dune Part 2 will optimize its use of Imax and Dolby, which cost a bit more than regular movie tickets. In fact, the first film earned half of its revenue from these screens.
The Marvels Brought Massive Financial Loss To Marvel Studios
Brie Larson’s The Marvels reportedly shelled out $270 million, as per Forbes. This makes the film the fourth most expensive MCU movie and it is not even an Avengers installment.
Captain Marvel (2019) only cost around $175 million, but it grossed a staggering $1.1 billion at the box office. Interestingly, the sequel was supposed to only have a $130 budget, but due to the ensemble cast, the overwhelming visual effects, and the overall storyline contributed to higher expenses.
According to The Numbers, The Marvels only earned $84 million in domestic sales and $115 million internationally for a worldwide total of $199 million, one of the lowest-grossing MCU films to date.
The lesson here is that the budget does not guarantee a movie’s success. The executives should know the pulse of the crowd. From the beginning, The Marvels has been the subject of jokes from fans and the object of despise from critics.
In any case, it remains to be seen how Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part 2 will perform at the box office so fans might want to catch it in theaters this March 1, 2024. Meanwhile, The Marvels is available to watch on Disney+.
