Denis Villeneuve, the director of Dune: Part Two, reacted to his movie being the highest-rated film of 2024 on Letterboxd. His sequel, which followed the 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune, hit theaters in February last year. The film tells the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he becomes a leader for the Fremen on the desert planet Arrakis. Critics gave Dune: Part Two glowing reviews, praising Villeneuve’s confident direction and the strong performances from the cast.
In a new video on the Letterboxd YouTube channel, Denis Villeneuve reacts to learning that Dune: Part Two was the highest-rated movie of the previous year. The French-Canadian director shared a touching response, saying he supports the movie-based social media app. He explained that having a platform like Letterboxd makes him feel hopeful about the future of his art. Check out Villeneuve’s full comment below:
I’m going to sleep well tonight, The fact that there’s a community of film lovers on Letterboxd, sharing their favorite films and passion for movies, gives me hope for the future of cinema. It’s amazing to see how interested and excited people are about movies. Knowing there’s still a strong love for cinema is the best reward for me.
Villeneuve said
While the first Dune movie was well-liked in 2021, the sequel has received even more praise. Dune: Part Two has a strong 92% critics‘ score on Rotten Tomatoes, up from the first movie’s 83%. The sequel stands out with its grand visuals, amazing action scenes, and a more emotional storyline. The audience has also loved it, giving it a 95% score, and the movie has earned $714 million worldwide at the box office.
| Dune Franchise Key Scores | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | RT Critics’ Score | RT Audience Score | Est. Budget | Worldwide Box Office |
| Dune | 83% | 90% | $165M | $407M |
| Dune: Part Two | 92% | 95% | $190M | $714M |
The positive response to Dune: Part Two shows the bright future of the franchise. Dune: Part Three is already in the works, with Villeneuve returning as director. While Villeneuve has said that his upcoming movie, based on Dune: Messiah, will be his final project in the franchise, it doesn’t mean the world of Dune will end there. Warner Bros. is excited by the success of Dune: Part Two and plans to keep expanding the franchise, including with the upcoming Dune: Prophecy TV show.
Related: Christopher Nolan Praises ‘Dune: Part Two’ As A “Miraculous” Adaptation
2024 turned out to be a great year for movies, with many impressive releases. While Furiosa didn’t do well at the box office, critics loved it, and movies like Twisters and Alien: Romulus received positive reviews too. Smaller films like The Substance and The Brutalist made an impact, and the animated movie The Wild Robot was a big hit with audiences. Wicked also got great feedback.
In Dune: Part Two, Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Paul Atreides on Arrakis stood out. While everyone has their own favorite movie of 2024, it’s clear that Paul’s story and Villeneuve’s way of telling it really connected with viewers. People are excited to see what happens next in the story after the Dune: Part Two ending, and it’s definitely something to look forward to.
Source: Letterboxd