Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve has said he's "disappointed" that the film is still number one at the box office.
The sequel, which is based on the second half of the novel Dune by Frank Herbert, has grossed a staggering $711.8 million globally since its debut in March, firmly positioning it as the biggest movie of 2024 so far.
Despite the sci-fi epic’s box office success, Villeneuve expressed his disappointment over a lacklustre year for the box office in general while speaking at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards.
Related: Dune: Part Two is now available to watch at home
"I think we need movies that are theatrical experiences, that will fully embrace the power of the theatre, and I'm not just talking about Dune 2," he told reporters after receiving the Academy Icon Award (via Yahoo).
"Of course I'm talking about many movies. A movie like Civil War, for instance, is a strong example of a movie that absolutely used the power of the theatre. I was lucky that Part 2 did reach the audience, I wish it would happen more often, honestly."
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The filmmaker 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."
Related: Dune 2's Denis Villeneuve responds to Stilgar memes
The second highest-grossing film of 2024 is Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which has amassed $567m globally, while Kung Fu Panda 4 is currently in third place, making $539m.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is in fourth position, having made $309m, while Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire rounds out the top five with $200.6m.
Despite receiving critical acclaim, George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road prequel Furiosa recently took in a disappointing $25 million across its opening weekend in the US, making it the lowest Memorial Day opening for three decades.
Dune: Part Two is available to buy or rent in the UK from Prime Video, iTunes, Microsoft Store and more.
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
