By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Sci-fi as a film genre often feels like something from a different universe. After all, the movies with the most money behind them often become disappointing flops, while those made on much leaner budgets frequently become cinematic classics. That makes Dune: Part Two something of a modern miracle, as it remains one of the best big-budget sci-fi movies ever made. If you’re ready to experience a sequel that improves on the first film in every way (or you just want to learn how to ride a giant sandworm), then it’s time to stream Dune: Part Two.
First Is The Worst, Second Is The Best
Courtesy of visionary director Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two is one that audiences are likely to appreciate because, if nothing else, it has more action and less intricate worldbuilding than the previous film. This sequel continues the tale of Paul Atreides and his mother, who are living among the native Fremen after the brutal murder of his family by House Harkonnen. Paul is learning to become the prophesied savior the Fremen see him as, but it soon becomes clear that he may ultimately offer destruction rather than salvation to the galaxy at large.
If you’re watching Dune: Part Two for the first time, you’ll likely be impressed by the stacked cast, including Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as his Fremen love interest. Other returning stars include Rebecca Ferguson (who plays Paul’s Bene Gesserit mother), Josh Brolin (who plays Paul’s gruff mentor), and Stellan Skarsgård (who plays Baron Vladimir Harkonnen to creepy perfection). Franchise newcomers include fan-favorite actors like Austin Butler (who plays the Baron’s vicious nephew), Christopher Walken (who plays the Emperor), and Florence Pugh (the Emperor’s oldest daughter).
People Love Dune
Well before Dune: Part Two landed on streaming, it impressed moviegoers with its out-of-this-world quality. Accordingly, the ambitious sci-fi sequel earned nearly $715 million against a budget of $190 million and left audiences clamoring for more. Denis Villeneuve is ready to give it to them with Dune: Part Three, his adaptation of Dune Messiah. Scheduled for release in December 2026, the upcoming film is intended to conclude Villeneuve’s cinematic trilogy, though the larger franchise could continue without him.
There’s a reason Dune: Part Two remains such a major draw on streaming. Simply put, this film was just as big a hit with critics as it was with audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a 92 percent critical rating and a 95 percent audience score via the Popcornmeter. That makes it the rare sci-fi epic to become both a critical and commercial smash hit, further establishing the franchise alongside HBO’s good (but not great) spinoff series Dune: Prophecy.
Given its major box office returns and dazzling critics’ reviews, I doubt I have to give sci-fi aficionados that much of a hard sell to stream Dune: Part Two. I will say this, though: I was one of the few geeks in my own circle of literary-minded friends who hadn’t read the original Dune novel before diving into this film, and I was pleasantly surprised at how accessible the movie is to newcomers. If you’re worried you won’t be able to keep up, the film expertly intersperses world-building with plot and characterization. Basically, every scene enriches your knowledge of this universe without ever feeling boring or rote.
Now, will you find Dune: Part Two as surprisingly epic and enthralling as I did, or is this a movie you’d rather feed to a giant worm? You won’t know until you stream it for yourself. If you do see the famous sandworm (he can be a bit shy), please tell him that his weirdly erotic popcorn bucket and subsequent memes were probably the highlight of 2024 for nerdy moviegoers around the world.
As of this writing, Dune: Part Two is streaming on Max.
DUNE: PART TWO REVIEW SCORE
