Dune: Part 2 is set to hit theaters later this week, boasting exceptional reviews within the science fiction genre. With a remarkable 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 148 reviews, the film stands among the highest-rated in cinematic history.
This marks a significant improvement from its predecessor, the original Dune, helmed by director Denis Villeneuve, which garnered an 83% rating.
The achievement of Dune: Part 2‘s score is truly remarkable, positioning it above or on par with esteemed classics in the sci-fi realm. While it’s not necessarily indicative of surpassing or matching the cultural significance of these films, it’s intriguing to observe its comparative standing alongside some of the genre’s most renowned works.
- Interstellar – 73%
- Avatar – 82%
- The Matrix – 83%
- Dune (Villenueve) – 83%
- Blade Runner 2049 (Villeneuve) – 88%
- Blade Runner – 89%
- District 9 – 90%
- Terminator 2 – 91%
- Robocop – 92%
- Alien – 93%
- 2001: A Space Odyssey – 92%
- Back to the Future – 93%
- Star Wars: A New Hope – 93%
- Arrival (Villeneuve) – 94%
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – 95%
- A Quiet Place – 96%
- Mad Max: Fury Road – 97%
- Metropolis – 97%
- Dune: Part 2 (Villeneuve)– 97%
- Repo Man – 98%
- Aliens – 98%
- ET – 99%
- The Terminator – 100%
For Villeneuve to proceed with Dune Messiah as the trilogy’s third installment, Dune: Part 2 must maintain a strong performance, although topping its predecessor might prove challenging given its current reception.
Villeneuve has undeniably solidified his position as one of the genre’s finest directors, though perhaps not yet reaching the stature of Cameron or Lucas, he’s certainly on a trajectory toward it.
In terms of box office prospects, Dune: Part 2 shows promising signs, outpacing Villeneuve’s previous works like Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival in pre-sales.
Early ticket sales are reported twice those of the first Dune film, although it’s important to consider the impact of the pandemic on the original release, which significantly dampened potential turnout.