Current:Home > Markets‘Dune: Part Two’ brings spice power to the box office with $81.5 million debut-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
‘Dune: Part Two’ brings spice power to the box office with $81.5 million debut
lotradecoin mobileapp View Date:2024-12-26 04:06:15
Movie theaters were looking for a savoir and “ Dune: Part Two ” is delivering on the promise. Armed with sandworms, big screen spectacle and the star power of Timothée Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve ’s science fiction epic stormed the North American box office this weekend earning $81.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
It’s the first major hit of 2024, and one that was sorely needed by exhibitors. Although there have been holdovers from December that have continued to earn, like Warner Bros.’ “ Wonka ” (also starring Chalamet) and Sony’s romantic comedy “Anyone But You,” the box office is in a bit of a drought. In the first two months of 2024, no films have crossed $100 million domestically. The highest earning movies have been “The Beekeeper,” “Bob Marley: One Love” and “Mean Girls.”
“Dune 2" rode a wave of great reviews (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) into a marketplace that was essentially free of competition. Warner Bros. released it in 4,071 locations in the U.S. and Canada, where audiences across the board gave it the highest PostTrak marks and an A CinemaScore. According to exit data, men accounted for 59% of opening weekend ticket buyers and 64% were over the age of 25. The sequel was primarily financed by Legendary.
Premium large format screens like IMAX and 70mm accounted for 48% of the opening weekend business. It marked a March record for IMAX, which made up $18.5 million of the overall take. The $81.5 million debut is a record for Villeneuve, Chalamet, Austin Butler and Rebecca Ferguson.
Originally planned for an October 2023 release, Warner Bros. bumped the movie to March amid the Hollywood strikes that would have prevented its starry cast from doing the promotional circuit. The global promo tour has been on hyperdrive for about a month, driving conversations with buzzy interviews, the viral sandworm-inspired popcorn bucket and eye-popping fashion moments from the stylish young cast – peaking with Zendaya’s silver cyborg showstopper (vintage Mugler) in London. They’ve made stops in Mexico City, South Korea, Abu Dhabi and New York City.
The first “ Dune ” opened under complicated conditions in October 2021. It was one of the last films of Warner Bros.’ divisive plan to simultaneously debut its major movies in theaters and on its streaming platform. And yet it still earned over $40 million in its first weekend and went on to gross over $400 million worldwide.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Hideki Matsuyama will be without regular caddie, coach after their passports and visas were stolen
- Olympics opening ceremony: Highlights, replay, takeaways from Paris
- Dressage faces make-or-break moment after video shows Olympian abusing horse
- Feds: New Orleans police officer charged with fraud amid tryst with mayor
- Clint Eastwood's Son Scott Shares How Family Is Doing After Death of Christina Sandera
- Gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar Suffers Severe Allergic Reaction in Olympic Village
- Rain could dampen excitement of Paris Olympics opening ceremony
- Justin Timberlake's Lawyer Says He Wasn't Intoxicated at the Time of DWI Arrest
- Conservative are pushing a ‘parental rights’ agenda in Florida school board races. But will it work?
- CAS ruling on Kamila Valieva case means US skaters can finally get gold medals
Ranking
- Alabama Supreme Court authorizes third nitrogen gas execution
- Mexican drug lord Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada and 'El Chapo' Guzman's son arrested in Texas
- Billy Joel's Daughters Della, 8, and Remy, 6, Make Rare Public Appearance for Final Residency Show
- AI 'art' is ruining Instagram and hurting artists. This is what needs to change.
- New York county signs controversial mask ban meant to hide people's identities in public
- Olympics opening ceremony: Highlights, replay, takeaways from Paris
- Pregnant Gypsy Rose Blanchard Unveils Massive New Back Tattoo
- Vegas man charged with threats to officials including judge, prosecutor in Trump hush money trial
Recommendation
-
Rob Schneider Responds to Daughter Elle King Calling Out His Parenting
-
Why Ballerina Farm Influencer Hannah Neeleman Rejects Tradwife Label
-
Justice Dept. claims TikTok collected US user views on issues like abortion and gun control
-
World record in 4x100 free relay could fall at these Olympics
-
The president of Columbia University has resigned, effective immediately
-
Veterans lobbied for psychedelic therapy, but it may not be enough to save MDMA drug application
-
Kamala Harris, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston and when we reduce women to 'childless cat ladies'
-
US national parks have a troubling history. A new project aims to do better.