Dune: Part Two is one of the most highly-anticipated films of the year and for good reason. With Part One, director Denis Villeneuve brought forth a mesmerizing vision of a psychedelic war epic full of action, drama, and tragedy, while remaining faithful to one of the best and most complex sci-fi novels ever published. Frank Herbert‘s world of scheming, manipulations, combat, prophecies, and drug-induced dreaming comes to life in the desert sands of Villeneuve’s movie. But that film ended on a cliffhanger, with Timothy Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, the promised messiah of Arrakis, taking only his first steps toward his destiny.
The sequel, then, is the story of Paul’s rise to power, as he must rally the Fremen for his war against House Harkonnen after the destruction of his own great house. It’s also the story of his love affair with Zendaya’s Chani, who will play a much bigger role in Part Two than she did in the first film. It’ll also bring in Paul’s counterpart, the Harkonnen heir Feyd-Rautha, played by Austin Butler, and will introduce Christopher Walken as the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV of the Imperium (what perfect casting!) and Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, who seems to play a more direct role in the events of the story than she did in the books.
There are of course a few other characters and unexpected twists yet to be revealed, especially since Villeneuve has already confirmed that Part Two is meant to set up a future adaptation of the second Herbert book, Dune Messiah, which the director hopes to make down the line.
“The Dune book ends with the beginning of something that is out of control, and I thought this was a very powerful ending. I feel that both movies complete the adaptation of the book, and I feel very good about that. When people ask me, is there a world where I could do Messiah? Yes…” the director recently told Vanity Fair. But don’t expect that third movie any time soon. According to Variety, Villeneuve confirmed last December during a press conference that the script “is not finished. It will take a little time.”
That said, while we have a bit of a wait ahead of us for the true end of this sci-fi trilogy, we don’t have to wait to hear what critics think about Dune: Part Two. With the world premiere and press screenings taking place this week, we finally have some first reactions to give us an idea of how Villeneuve fared the second time around on Arrakis. Spoilers: things are looking good for a third film as far as critics are concerned. Let’s just hope the movie gets the box office returns to match…
You can read what critics are saying about the film below:
DUNE: PART TWO is a triumph. Even more immense than the first, but much more intimate — Denis Villeneuve manages to streamline the more alienating second half of the book into a riveting, action-packed epic. TWO TOWERS-level mastery of battle sequences. Zendaya is the star. pic.twitter.com/gUYD6g3onN
— Hoai-Tran Bui (@htranbui) February 15, 2024
DUNE PART TWO is phenomenal! More astonishingly epic than P1 and boldly realize Herbert’s density in its political and religious themes. It’s all so intricately crafted that it leads to one of the coolest and riveting climaxes I’ve ever seen. Denis once again got that mf spice! pic.twitter.com/f4nWfyhnmZ
— Rendy (@rendy_jones) February 15, 2024
Dune: Part Two — Denis Villeneuve lands every spectacular, brutalist tableau he threw in the air three years ago. Sci-fi mythmaking at its finest and most tragic: the gravity of manufactured destiny, the untamable tendrils or belief. Loved this. pic.twitter.com/bWO9cUirhc
— Jeff Zhang 张佶润 (@strangeharbors) February 15, 2024
DUNE: PART TWO is unlike anything we’ve seen before, yet familiar all the same. With a consistently impressive use of score and sound, it features transformative performances from Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler. An adrenaline rush of cinematic proportions.#DuneMovie pic.twitter.com/wa7AfIGgcX
— film posers™️ Josie Marie 🍉 (@TheJosieMarie) February 15, 2024
Austin Butler is absolutely transformative, captivating & seductively evil. Yet another compelling performance from Dave Bautista. Rebecca Ferguson tears up the screen, rising to commanding power. Florence Pugh turns in career best work. (2/2) #DunePartTwo/ #Dune2 pic.twitter.com/Ay5mdqTP3Z
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) February 15, 2024
#DunePartTwo is a giant epic, a masterclass of crafts from Greig Fraser’s exceptional photography to Patrice Vermette’s magnificent world building. Denis Villeneuve has delivered his magnus opus directing one of the best sci-fi films for generations to come. pic.twitter.com/Vvfs8YeFIi
— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) February 15, 2024
DUNE: PART TWO was majestic. Extremely immersive, bold, wonderful look into the life of the Fremen, full of beautiful action sequences and high-stakes drama that The Bard would love. Chalamet comes into his own here and Zendaya and Pugh kill it. #DunePartTwo pic.twitter.com/ZreNg0FDKP
— Jeff Ewing (@ReelJeffEwing) February 15, 2024
In a shock to no one, I absolutely loved #Dune2. Incredible filmmaking. Brilliant score. Entire cast was excellent. My only complaint was I wish it was longer. Not joking around. The movie is 2hr and 40 min(?) and I would have been happy to watch another hour. pic.twitter.com/6PZmfQTEAH
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) February 15, 2024
#DunePartTwo is MASTERFUL filmmaking on an epic scale. Denis Villeneuve marries gripping character development to vast, sweeping cinematic visuals. And the cast evolves in their roles. I slightly prefer the simpler DUNE to this complex chapter, but still, a towering achievement. pic.twitter.com/qIFaeshZyW
— Sean O’Connell (@Sean_OConnell) February 15, 2024
Having watched #DunePartTwo, I can say I have ridden a sandworm. It’s a magical experience, and the faithful adaptation fans have been waiting for (albeit w/ some smart changes). A fascinating examination of zealotry & postcolonial politics wrapped in a breathtaking blockbuster. pic.twitter.com/pCWqBCbtNb
— Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) February 15, 2024
DUNE: Part Two is a masterpiece. Maybe one of the best space films ever. Besides being the most visually impressive movie I’ve seen—an assault on all the senses—it’s an riveting political thriller & character study. The cast is great but Rebecca Ferguson & Austin Butler steal it. pic.twitter.com/q7AZugQeGK
— Karl Delossantos (@karl_delo) February 15, 2024
I was kind of mixed on the first Dune. DUNE: PART TWO is phenomenal. Up there with the greatest sci-fi movies I’ve ever seen. I want to ride a sandworm. #DunePartTwo
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) February 15, 2024
Dune: Part Two is Denis Villeneuve’s Empire Strikes Back & Lawrence of Arabia. A sci-fi opera that is not just grand in scale, but in its hypnotizing and emotionally devastating story. Austin Butler will be a talking point for many, but its Timothée Chalamet who left my jaw on… pic.twitter.com/IOyfauU5xQ
— David Gonzalez (@CinematicReel) February 15, 2024
#DUNEPartTwo is a monumental cinematic achievement. Greater than Part I on a narrative, technical, & thematic level, Villeneuve delivers with grander ambition aided by an extraordinary, morally complex performance from Timothee Chalamet
The first MUST SEE blockbuster of the year pic.twitter.com/jVEkDQsS74
— Diego Andaluz (@thediegoandaluz) February 15, 2024
Dune: Part Two opens in theaters on March 1. You can check out the full schedule of upcoming movies coming in 2024 here.
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