Dune’s Success Raises Questions About Overspending on Blockbusters
Dune fever is sweeping the nation. Director Denis Villeneuve’s take on Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic appears to be exactly what audiences needed after getting burnt out on half-baked franchise films. But aside from showing that studios should place their faith in filmmakers with genuine vision again when it comes to approaching their biggest properties, Dune 2’s success also brings into question the methods that have become so commonplace for modern blockbuster production. Specifically, why do so many of these movies cost so much more but look so much worse than Dune?
Unmatched Visuals and a Unique cinematic Experience
Few would argue that Dune’s visuals aren’t a remarkable technical achievement. The first film even won Oscars for its visual effects, cinematography, and production design. Villeneuve’s take on Arrakis and the wider Dune universe is about as massive in scope as is possible with the technology available. The scale of the visuals and the artistic commitment to making a movie where it feels essential to experience it in theaters has led to audiences filling up IMAX screenings at 3:15 in the morning.
Why do so many of these movies cost so much more but look so much worse than Dune?
Dune: Part 1 was released back in 2021 with a $165 million price tag, which is actually on the low end when it comes to comparable films of that year. Most Marvel features, including 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, Black Widow, Eternals, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, cost at least $200 million seemingly by default. Other big franchise movies that year like F9 and No Time to Die were also in the $200-300 million range.
Dune: Part 2 cost a little more, coming in at $190 million. The budget uptick is largely COVID-related, as stated by producer Mary Parent. Part 1’s principal photography took place before the pandemic, so if COVID wasn’t a factor, Part 2’s budget would likely be even closer to the first film’s.
Yet even with its production concerns, Villeneuve was able to deliver a maximalist blockbuster experience at a more frugal cost than most of his contemporaries. For example, Matthew Vaughn’s latest spy action film Argylle cost $200 million, but doesn’t exactly look great. When looking at these films side by side, serious questions must be asked about why these movies cost as much as they do – especially since Argylle is not making its money back in theaters.
Reevaluating Overspending in Blockbuster Productions
Not every filmmaker is Denis Villeneuve, but even with that caveat, it’s becoming harder and harder not to get the sense that blockbuster productions are spending money that they shouldn’t have to. Many Marvel movies and other big franchises have faced VFX problems, poor management, and excessive reshoots. This results in overspending while compromising the quality of the visuals.
Movies like The Flash, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny have cost significantly more than either Dune installment but deliver lower quality visuals and struggle to turn a profit. Overspending on features, in addition to compromising the vision of filmmakers, has become unsustainable.
Trusting Filmmakers and Prioritizing Artistic Vision
Denis Villeneuve’s ability to deliver Dune’s spectacle on a reasonable budget should be a wake-up call for filmmakers and studios everywhere. The success of movies that prioritize artistic vision and are not burdened by excessive budgets has been evident. Trusting filmmakers who know what they want and giving them the space to approach their projects can lead to better-looking films and a stronger chance of profitability.
Carlos Morales writes novels, articles, and Mass Effect essays. You can follow his fixations on Twitter.
