Split Images of Paul, Chani, and Feyd Rautha Dune Part TwoDune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve recently opened up about the sci-fi sequel currently being the biggest movie of 2024. Surprisingly, the filmmaker expressed disappointment over the lack of box office hits this year.

Speaking to reporters shortly after receiving the Academy Icon Award at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards (via TheWrap), Villeneuve explained that Hollywood needed to make more “movies that are theatrical experiences, that will fully embrace the power of the theater, and I’m not just talking about Dune 2.” He noted that Alex Garland’s Civil War was “a strong example of a movie that absolutely used the power of the theater.” At the time of writing, Civil War has grossed $113.9 million at the box office, becoming distributor A24’s second highest-grossing film ever.

Denis Villeneuve Wants More Movies to Succeed at the Box Office

“I was lucky that Part Two did reach the audience, I wish it would happen more often, honestly,” Villeneuve added. “I’m disappointed to still be number one. … I hope soon that there will be other successes at the box office. I hope, sooner or later, that this summer box office will be much better.”

Dune: Part Two has so far grossed over $711 million at the global box office, roughly $150 million more than the next highest-grossing film of 2024, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ($567M). While there have been other box office hits this year like DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 ($542M) and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ($308M), many films have struggled to leave their mark on audiences.

The summer box office has gotten off to a slow start, with both IF and Furiosa: A Max Mad Saga coming in under estimates despite being heavily marketed and boasting all-star casts. However, many box office analysts believe that Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine will help save the summer movie season. The Marvel Cinematic Universe threequel has already broken ticket sales records, suggesting a strong opening weekend for the Shawn Levy-directed superhero feature.

Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia in Dune. Beast Rabban looking concerned flanked by harkonnen guards in Dune
 Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Two. Paul Atredies hooded in the desert in Dune- Part Two Gurney stares in Dune 2

What’s the Latest on Dune: Messiah?

Following the critical and commercial success of Villeneuve’s two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune, Legendary has reportedly begun working with the filmmaker to develop a third Dune movie, which will be an adaptation of Herbert’s second novel in his science fiction series, Dune: Messiah. However, despite Dune becoming a breakout franchise for Legendary and Warner Bros., Villeneuve has indicated that he will not begin production until they have a “strong screenplay,” explaining, “The thing I want to avoid is not having something ready. I never did it, and now I feel it could be dangerous because of the enthusiasm. We need to make sure all the ideas are on paper.”

In the meantime, fans can look forward to the upcoming prequel spinoff series, Dune: Prophecy, which is set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides. Set to premiere on Max this fall, Prophecy follows “two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.”