‘Dune: Part Two’ brings spice power to the box office with $81.5 million debut

Dune: Part Two dominates the box office with $178.5 million global debut, delivering a cinematic spectacle.

Movie theatres were looking for a savior andDune: Part Two is delivering on the promise. Armed with sandworms, big screen spectacle and the star power of Timothée Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve’s science fiction epic stormed the North American box office this weekend earning $81.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Internationally, it earned $97 million, bringing its global debut to $178.5 million. “Denis made a really extraordinary and special film and it’s been really exciting to see people respond,” said Mary Parent, a producer on both Dune films and chairman of worldwide production at Legendary. “It was made for the big screen and it feels like it’s being received as a cinematic event.”

It’s the first major hit of 2024 and one that exhibitors sorely needed. Although there have been holdovers from December that have continued to earn, like Warner Bros.’ Wonka (also starring Chalamet) and Sony’s romantic comedy Anyone But You, the box office is in a bit of a drought. In the first two months of 2024, no films have crossed $100 million domestically. The highest earning movies have been The Beekeeper, Bob Marley: One Love and Mean Girls.

Dune 2 rode a wave of great reviews (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) into a marketplace that was essentially free of competition. Warner Bros. released it in 4,071 locations in the U.S. and Canada, where audiences across the board gave it the highest PostTrak marks and an A CinemaScore. According to exit data, men accounted for 59% of opening weekend ticket buyers and 64% were over the age of 25. The sequel was primarily financed by Legendary and its production budget, previously reported to be in the $122 million range, is closer to $190 million.

“It really captured the marketplace,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution. “It’s a cultural moment globally.”

Premium large format screens like IMAX and 70mm accounted for 48% of the opening weekend business. It marked a March record for IMAX, which made up $18.5 million of the overall take. Villeneuve filmed the movie using IMAX cameras. Unlike Oppenheimer, it was shot digitally, but with the extra time with the strike delay they were able to make film prints as well and the film format is proving a popular draw for audiences.

“Our most iconic film locations are virtually sold out for weeks,” said IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond.