--- title: "Dune: Part Two" year: 2024 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/dune-part-two" fi1m_id: "dune-part-two" imdb_id: "tt15239678" tmdb_id: 693134 wikidata_id: "Q109228991" fi1m_score: 84 critics_score: 90 critics_reviews: 7 published: "2026-09-09" updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:47.223748+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Dune: Part Two (2024) Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 2h 47m · MPA PG-13 · Science Fiction, Adventure ## Identity Dune: Part Two - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/dune-part-two - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** dune-part-two - **IMDb ID:** tt15239678 - **TMDB ID:** 693134 - **Wikidata ID:** Q109228991 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15239678/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/693134, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109228991 **Fi1m score: 84** · Critics 90 from 7 reviews *In a sentence:* Nearly three hours of sand, prophecy and one boy who should have listened to his girlfriend > Denis Villeneuve’s second half of Herbert’s novel is the most assured large-scale science fiction we have seen in years, and Greig Fraser’s desert deserves the biggest screen you can find. The love story at its centre does not hold. ## Synopsis Paul Atreides, the last of a noble house wiped out on the desert planet Arrakis, is living among the Fremen with his mother Jessica, who is carrying his unborn sister. The Fremen leader Stilgar believes Paul is the messiah their religion has promised. Chani, the young fighter Paul is falling for, believes no such thing. While Paul learns to walk the sand, fight in the Fremen way and ride the great worms, the Harkonnens who killed his father tighten their hold on the planet, and the Emperor watches from a distance with his daughter Irulan. Denis Villeneuve directs the second half of Frank Herbert’s novel, with Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler and Florence Pugh. ## Review Denis Villeneuve’s [*Dune*](https://film.one/film/dune) (2021) got Paul Atreides as far as the desert. This one starts him walking. Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts have taken the second half of Frank Herbert’s novel and made a 167-minute war film out of it: a boy whose family has been murdered joins the people who live in the deep sand, learns their ways, and is told by nearly everyone he meets that he is the saviour they were promised. Our verdict is that this is the most assured large-scale science fiction we have seen in years, and that its love story does not hold. See it in a cinema, on the biggest screen within reach, and expect to be impressed more often than moved. Greig Fraser is the first reason to go. He shoots Arrakis in flat, hard daylight, with the horizon so bleached it is difficult to tell sand from sky, and he puts the camera low enough that a dune becomes a wall. Then he goes to the Harkonnen home world, where the sun is black, and shoots a gladiatorial arena in infrared monochrome so that skin looks like marble and blood like ink. Patrice Vermette’s production design gives him a Fremen stronghold carved from rock with everything in it made for use, and a Harkonnen arena that is a black bowl full of white faces. Jacqueline West’s stillsuits look as though they would chafe, which is the correct look for a suit that recycles your sweat. The worm ride is the sequence people will talk about, and they will be right. Paul plants a thumper, waits, and the dune under him starts to move. Joe Walker cuts it slowly, one hook, one foothold, one face full of sand at a time, and Hans Zimmer’s music falls away to wind and breathing before it comes back. We are hard to impress with size these days and we sat forward without deciding to. Nothing on screen is doing more than a boy trying not to fall off, and that is why it works. Timothée Chalamet plays Paul as a boy who becomes a preacher, and the change is in his voice: it drops, and he stops asking questions. Zendaya’s Chani is the only person in the film who does not believe in him, and she is the best thing in it; the frown she gives him when the crowd starts chanting is the film’s argument in one look. Javier Bardem’s Stilgar finds proof of the prophecy in everything Paul does, including denying it, and Bardem plays it for laughs without ever making him a fool. Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha, bald, whispering and lit like a corpse, borrows Stellan Skarsgård’s voice and is the film’s one shot of pure appetite. Christopher Walken plays the Emperor as a tired man who has wandered in from a quieter film. It is odd, and we did not mind. What does not work is the romance, and it matters, because the film has built its ending on it. Chalamet and Zendaya are told they are in love, by the script and by the music, more often than they show it; their scenes together are watchful where they should be warm. The Fremen are given faith and knives and not much else, and the division between the believers in the south and the doubters in the north is announced rather than lived. Zimmer’s score, which was thrilling for an hour, never once stops shouting; by the second hour we wanted a minute of quiet and the film would not give us one. The last half hour, after two hours of patience, moves at a gallop, and the second half takes a turn we will not describe. Set against Villeneuve’s *Arrival* (2016) and *Blade Runner 2049* (2017), this has the same gift for scale and the same trouble with warmth. Herbert’s novel is a warning about messiahs. The film says so, mostly through Chani, but the camera loves Paul too much for the warning to land as hard as it should. Most critics have gone higher than we have, and we understand why; the things that impressed them impressed us. The 12A certificate is fair: a great many people are stabbed and almost none of them bleed. Watch it in a cinema if you can. At home it shrinks to a handsome, serious programme about a family argument, and the worm becomes a special effect again. *Fi1m score 84, published 9 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews are almost uniformly warm, and the praise clusters where you would expect: the scale of the action, the sandworms, Hans Zimmer’s score, and Villeneuve’s handling of material long thought unfilmable. Among the cast, Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha is the name most often singled out, with several critics also crediting Zendaya’s sceptical Chani for giving the film an emotional footing. The reservations are quieter but consistent. Sight and Sound finds the romantic leads underheated and the story shaped like a middle instalment; Deadline says the plotting drifts whenever Paul leaves the frame; /Film calls much of the running time repetitive before a strong third act; The Hollywood Reporter objects to a thin portrayal of the Fremen as an indigenous people. Most critics also note, without much complaint, that the film ends as a set-up for a third. The spread is narrow: nobody dislikes it, and the argument is only over how much it leaves unresolved. ## Straight answers **Is Dune: Part Two worth watching?** *Dune: Part Two* is worth watching, and we scored it 84, for anyone who wants large-scale science fiction made with real assurance and can sit through 167 minutes of it. Greig Fraser's desert and the worm ride are the reasons to go. The love story between Paul and Chani does not hold, so expect to be impressed more often than moved. **How long is Dune: Part Two, and what is it rated?** *Dune: Part Two* runs 2h 47m and is rated PG-13 by the MPA in the US. It is a science fiction and adventure film. **Where can I watch Dune: Part Two in the US?** *Dune: Part Two* is streaming on HBO Max, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu in the US, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video from $4.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Dune: Part Two, and is it suitable for children?** *Dune: Part Two* carries a 12A certificate in the UK, and we think that is fair: a great many people are stabbed and almost none of them bleed. There are knife fights, a gladiatorial arena and a sustained sense of war, but nothing gory. It suits older children and teenagers; younger or more sensitive viewers may find the length harder than the violence. **How does Dune: Part Two compare to Lawrence of Arabia?** *Dune: Part Two* and [*Lawrence of Arabia*](https://film.one/film/lawrence-of-arabia) are both desert films about a foreigner who starts believing what the locals say about him, and both earn their length through scale. Lean's film has the better central performance and the more unsettling portrait of a man swallowed by his own legend. Villeneuve's is the more spectacular, and the easier evening for viewers who want action and spectacle over character. **Is Dune: Part Two based on a true story or a book?** *Dune: Part Two* is based on the second half of Frank Herbert's novel *Dune*, not on a true story. Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts keep Herbert's warning about messiahs, voiced mostly through Chani, though the camera loves Paul more than the book does. You do not need to have read it, but you should have seen the first film. **What should I watch after Dune: Part Two?** After *Dune: Part Two*, try [*Lawrence of Arabia*](https://film.one/film/lawrence-of-arabia) (1962, Fi1m 90): The original desert film about a foreigner who starts believing what the locals say about him. Then [*Arrival*](https://film.one/film/arrival) (2016, Fi1m 86): Villeneuve at the same scale with a fraction of the noise, and more feeling; and [*Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind*](https://film.one/film/warriors-of-the-wind) (1984, Fi1m 85): A girl, a poisoned wasteland and giant creatures nobody should be trying to kill. ### Reviews we read (14) - **Empire**, Ben Travis (5/5): The critic hails Villeneuve’s sequel as a muscular war epic with staggering action sequences and strong performances, particularly Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha. It notes the film’s Middle-earthian ambition and Nolan-esque intensity but cautions it may overwhelm with non-stop grandeur. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/dune-part-two/) - **Total Film**, Kevin Harley (5/5): The review positions the film as a sequel ranking alongside The Dark Knight and The Empire Strikes Back, praising Villeneuve for wrangling coherence from the source material into a completion of the story. It highlights the epic scope and cinematic achievement. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/dune-part-two-review/) - **The Guardian**, Wendy Ide (90/100, inferred): The critic hails the film as a jaw-on-the-floor spectacular that succeeds in adapting the unfilmable with retina-searing visuals and grandstanding performances. Austin Butler's gleefully over-the-top turn as Feyd-Rautha is singled out for particular praise alongside Hans Zimmer's thunderous score. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/03/dune-part-two-review-denis-villeneuve-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-rebecca-ferguson-austin-butler-sci-fi-sequel-is-jaw-on-the-floor-spectacular) - **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (4/5): A spectacular return to Arrakis that is well worth waiting for, with spectacular sequences, strong performances (especially Chalamet), and masterful direction and visuals from Villeneuve. Unexpected humour and a thumping score enhance the epic scope. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/dune-part-two-review/) - **Sight and Sound**, Kim Newman: The critic finds it an impressive war movie-cum-swashbuckling adventure loaded with giant worms and vivid villains that occasionally upstage its key characters. The romantic leads are underheated and the story feels like an instalment of a longer saga without a true beginning or end. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/dune-part-two-impressive-sci-fi-war-saga) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Lovia Gyarkye: The critic finds the film visually stunning and engrossing as a cinematic event but limited by a nagging shallowness in its portrayal of the Fremen as an indigenous people. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/dune-part-two-review-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-1235830061/) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (Critic's Pick): The critic praises Villeneuve for delivering a bigger, more far-out spectacle than the first film, with strong performances from Chalamet and Zendaya. The review singles out the film's nimble handling of epic scope and its visual and emotional impact. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/movies/dune-part-two-review.html) - **Variety**, Peter Debruge: The critic calls it a meaty, all-encompassing narrative that graduates from world-building to a satisfying theatrical event. The review singles out the strategic payoffs and the epic scale as a vote of confidence in cinema. [Read](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/dune-2-review-timothee-chalamet-denis-villeneuve-1235917934/) - **Vulture**, Alison Willmore: The critic calls it Zendaya’s movie, praising how her fierce, skeptical performance as Chani gives the film emotional tangibility and grounds its high-level machinations. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/dune-part-two-review-this-is-zendayas-movie.html) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (5/5): The critic calls it a bleak and brilliant masterpiece about messiahs and the body counts they accrue. They single out the complex portrayal of Paul’s journey from vengeful son to bloodstained warmonger alongside the immersive, tactile world-building. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/dune-2-review-denis-villenuve-bleakest-masterpiece/) - **NME**, Matthew Turner (4/5): The critic hails it as a stunning, sandworm-sized blockbuster with epic scope, astonishing world-building and thrilling action. They single out the jaw-dropping visuals and strong cast performances but note the ending feels slightly rushed. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/dune-part-2-review-3593580) - **Deadline**, Damon Wise (75/100, inferred): The critic calls it a spectacular sequel that leans into the complicated mythos of Arrakis and its worlds, with breathtaking effects and strong world-building. However, the plotting drifts and feels episodic away from Paul, with some confusing war scenes and a stilted script at times, though it sets up a potentially stronger third film. [Read](https://deadline.com/2024/02/dune-part-two-review-1235832727/) - **/Film**, Chris Evangelista (7 out of 10): The critic finds the film a grand sensory experience with heavy themes on faith, revenge, and messianism, but notes it feels aimless and repetitive for much of its runtime before a strong third act. Praise goes to the scale, production design, and Hans Zimmer score, while complaining about the incomplete narrative. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1522684/dune-part-two-review/) - **Polygon**, Austen Goslin: The film is a blockbuster epic that pays off Part One’s promises and is exactly the movie Part One promised it could be. The critic singles out Villeneuve’s matured filmmaking and the rare sequel that outdoes its predecessor while becoming one of the best blockbusters of the century. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/24078649/dune-2-review-release-date-cast-zendaya-denis-villeneuve-part-two) ## Details - **Director:** Denis Villeneuve - **Director:** Denis Villeneuve - **Screenplay:** Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts - **Novel:** Frank Herbert - **Cinematography:** Greig Fraser - **Editor:** Joe Walker - **Music:** Hans Zimmer - **Production design:** Patrice Vermette - **Costume design:** Jacqueline West - **Producer:** Cale Boyter, Mary Parent, Tanya Lapointe - **Cast:** Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides; Zendaya as Chani; Rebecca Ferguson as Jessica; Javier Bardem as Stilgar; Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck; Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha; Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan; Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban - **Runtime:** 2h 47m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 1 March 2024 - **Genres:** Science Fiction, Adventure - **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 2024); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Nominee, 2024) - **Budget:** $190 million - **Box office:** $715 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Qp5pL3ovA ## Where to watch in the US - HBO Max: streaming, uhd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - Hulu: add-on, hd - Apple TV: rent $4.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $4.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-10.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Hugo Awards 2025: Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form (won) ## If you liked this - *Lawrence of Arabia* (1962), Fi1m 90: The original desert film about a foreigner who starts believing what the locals say about him. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/lawrence-of-arabia.md) - *Arrival* (2016), Fi1m 86: Villeneuve at the same scale with a fraction of the noise, and more feeling. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/arrival.md) - *Kagemusha* (1980): Kurosawa on armies, banners and a man asked to be a god he is not. - *Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind* (1984), Fi1m 85: A girl, a poisoned wasteland and giant creatures nobody should be trying to kill. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/warriors-of-the-wind.md) - *The Battle of Algiers* (1966), Fi1m 93: What the insurgency against an occupier looks like without a chosen one to lead it. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-battle-of-algiers.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/dune-part-two