Dune: Part Two Opens Strong, Potential for Third Film
Timothée Chalamet, the rising star of Hollywood, continues to make waves in the film industry. After his success in the Christmas blockbuster Wonka, which grossed an impressive $624.8 million worldwide, Chalamet is now captivating audiences with his performance in Dune: Part Two. The young actor’s meteoric rise has landed him at No. 7 on the list of top-grossing stars at the 2023 worldwide box office, surpassing industry veterans and proving that there are indeed new talents capable of drawing audiences globally.
The Numbers, a box office tracker, determines its yearly ranking based on movies released in the current year and the two preceding years. This means that Chalamet’s performance in the 2021 film Dune contributed to his impressive ranking. At just 27 years old, he is the youngest actor to make it into the top 10 names on the 2023 list, dispelling the notion that only older actors can carry a movie’s success.
Dune: Part Two has opened to a strong start, much to the relief of Legendary and Warner Bros. The film earned $82.5 million domestically and an additional $100 million overseas during its opening weekend. This translates to a global start of $182.5 million. Rival studios predict that Dune will surpass its breakeven benchmark of $500 million and potentially reach earnings between $600 million and $700 million. The first installment of Dune, released during the pandemic and with a day-and-date release on Max, reached a total gross of $433.8 million.
Legendary took a calculated risk by delaying the release of Dune: Part Two from last fall to ensure that the cast, which includes other young stars like Zendaya, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh, would be available to promote the film after the SAG-AFTRA strike ended. This decision seems to have paid off, as the studio aimed to attract a broader audience beyond die-hard fans of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel from 1965. The strategy appears to be working, with an increase in the percentage of opening weekend ticket buyers between the ages of 18 and 35.
EntTelligence, a research firm that visited approximately 380 theaters across 40 circuits, reported that the percentage of ticket buyers aged 18 to 25 rose from 14 percent for the first Dune film to 18 percent for the sequel. Similarly, the percentage of ticket buyers aged 26 to 35 increased from 20 percent to 28 percent. These age groups are crucial as they represent the most frequent moviegoers.
Legendary CEO Josh Grode expressed his satisfaction with the film’s performance and hinted at exciting news regarding a potential third installment. When asked about plans for a third film, Grode’s enthusiastic response suggested that there could be an announcement in the near future. “We’re all actively engaged in Dune: Part Three. That’s what I’ll say for right now,” he stated.
As audiences continue to flock to theaters to witness the epic world of Dune unfold, it is clear that Timothée Chalamet’s star power and the captivating storyline have struck a chord with moviegoers worldwide. With the potential for a third film on the horizon, fans can eagerly anticipate further adventures in this beloved sci-fi universe.