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Dune

Dune

It begins.

2021155 minPG-13Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Starring
Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence - a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential - only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Dune?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Dune streaming on HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Dune?

Dune earns 11 badges, led by Top 1% in Action and Top 5% of films.

Show 3 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Dune worth watching?

Dune's Midcredits score is the 98th percentile of all films, from 5.6M ratings across 6 sources. 88% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

98th percentile

Better received than 98% of films

99th percentile among Action97th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)96th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

79 /100

96th percentile of all films

98th percentile among Action94th percentile among 2020s

Critics 74 · Audience 79

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

88% liked it

97th percentile of all films

98th percentile among Action96th percentile among 2020s
88% rated it 7–1012% rated it 1–6

Critics 83% · Audience 90%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 41 wins / 59 noms overall

  • WonGolden Globes· Best Original Score - Motion Picture
  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Director - Motion Picture

97th percentile

5.6M ratings across platforms

93rd percentile among Action97th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 2% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$165M
Opening weekend$41M
Domestic gross$109M
Worldwide gross$411M

Returned 2.5× its budget — 96th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film is visually stunning, technically impressive, and ambitious, but opinions diverge on whether that craft compensates for slow pacing and narrative density.

Fans praised

  • faithful to the book's scope and themes
  • breathtaking visuals, cinematography, and production design
  • Hans Zimmer's score and sound design are immersive

Detractors panned

  • slow pacing and a slog to get through
  • confusing for newcomers, with underdeveloped characters and motivations
  • derivative of Lynch's film and weak screenplay

What stands out

Cinematography95

stunning visuals from Greig Fraser

Effects and spectacle90

sandworms, ships, and set pieces are impressive

Sound and musicDivisive90

Zimmer's score and sound design are a highlight

Atmosphere90

immersive world-building and grand scale

Acting80

stellar cast delivers strong performances

Plot and storyDivisive65

faithful yet dense, half a story frustrating for some

CharactersDivisive60

fan feels character-building, detractors find underwritten motives

PacingDivisive55

patient and epic for fans, slow and boring for detractors

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 3 points apart
  • Critics vs users 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Dune like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Big and sweeping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you can give it your full attention, and you want to be swept up in something big.

It is intense, takes its time and leaves you thinking. Skip it when you can only half-watch or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention and patience.

What it feels like

Big and sweeping.

Moods
DreadTenseContemplative
Heaviest: late
Register
Epic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneVilleneuve treats Herbert's universe with grave seriousness, building a majestic, awe-inspiring spectacle that never winks at its audience.
The rideThe film sustains a brooding, tense atmosphere throughout, with moments of awe and quiet reflection, but the heaviest emotional weight lands in the final act as Paul's world collapses.
StructureConventional chronological storytelling divided into the Caladan prologue, Arrakis betrayal, and desert survival.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

Thought-provokingHaunting · 14% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's dense political and ecological themes linger, alongside the haunting imagery of the desert and Paul's visions.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

10% of films fit this archetype

with Overcoming the monster underneath

Why this archetypeThe narrative follows Paul Atreides' journey from noble heir to desert survivor, driven by visions and a messianic destiny while facing political betrayal.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfPower
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 2% (this title) · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Power

Power · 2% of filmsFreedom · 5% of filmsIdentity · 14% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Cosmic stakes: Consequences reach beyond the world.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores who controls Arrakis, its spice, and its people, while Paul grapples with his own destined role and the Fremen's struggle for liberation.
StanceThe film questions who deserves power and at what cost it is held, presenting Paul's rise with both grandeur and unease about the destiny he is being pulled into.

The world

Far futureWildernessDomesticInstitutionalScience fiction
Orchestral modernElectronicExperimentalForeground music · original score · Hans Zimmer
Settingthe desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, with its spice-mining operations and native Fremen culture
MusicZimmer's score blends mournful vocal chants, percussive drums, and droning synths to evoke the vast, alien desert of Arrakis.

Content guide

Is Dune okay for kids?

PG-13

Dune is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing images and suggestive material” (MPAA). As of October 26, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (59/100), sexual content at mild (20/100), language at mild (19/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (24/100) and frightening material at moderate (59/100). Overall it is heavier than 55% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 38 other countries
  • UK12A
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland12A
  • New ZealandM
  • JapanG
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil14
  • AE18TC
  • Argentina+13
  • Belgium14
  • Czechia12+
  • Denmark11
  • FinlandK-12
  • GreeceΚ-12
  • Hong KongIIA
  • Hungary16
  • IndiaUA
  • IsraelAll
  • ItalyT
  • LTN-13
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway12
  • Poland12
  • PortugalM/12
  • PRPG-13
  • RO12
  • Russia12+
  • SingaporePG13
  • Spain12
  • Sweden11
  • Switzerland12
  • Taiwan6+
  • THG
  • Türkiye13+
  • UA12+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 34% of all filmsHeavier than 55% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 69%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 30%
Profanity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 7%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 24%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 72%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is violence, heavier than 69% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Dune have?

MovieCove's classifier found 4 depicted content warnings in Dune: Kidnapping or confinement (mild), Sexual violence (mild), plus 2 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

MildKidnapping or confinementSexual violence

Cast and crew

Who is in Dune?

Cast

6 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Timothée Chalamet
as Paul Atreides
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rebecca Ferguson
as Lady Jessica Atreides
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Oscar Isaac
as Duke Leto Atreides
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jason Momoa
as Duncan Idaho
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Stellan Skarsgård
as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Stephen McKinley Henderson
as Thufir Hawat
Josh Brolin
as Gurney Halleck
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Javier Bardem
as Stilgar
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Sharon Duncan-Brewster
as Dr. Liet Kynes
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Chang Chen
as Dr. Wellington Yueh
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Dune?

Movies like Dune include Dune: Part Two (2024), Dune (1984) and The Postman (1997). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Denis Villeneuve, and several are films set in the desert.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

8 of these 12 share its world: space opera. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Dune?

263 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: space opera. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.