He has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal of introducing audiences to a whole new world of cinema.
As it prepares to be overtaken at the domestic box office by the new sci-fi sensation Project Hail Mary, one of the greatest franchise-starters that the genre has ever seen is witnessing a surge in viewership at home. The movie in question was released five years ago, day-and-date in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service. It was part of Warner Bros.’ controversial decision to release its entire 2021 slate on streaming as well as in theaters. The goal was to grow HBO Max into a viable competitor against Netflix and Prime Video during the peak of the streaming wars. However, the decision caused several filmmakers to lash out at the studio. Although his movie wasn’t affected, Christopher Nolan severed ties with W.B. and has since worked with Universal.
However, the 2021 sci-fi classic has only grown in relevance since its release. The movie defied the odds to deliver a phenomenal box-office haul, which led to a sequel being green-lit almost immediately after its debut weekend. Later this year, a third installment will be released exclusively in theaters. Almost as if to make up for its earlier mishandling of the situation, W.B. gave the film’s immediate follow-up a grand theatrical release a couple of years ago. The second installment also had screenings in the premium IMAX 70mm format in theaters equipped to project it around the world. All three movies are headlined by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, alongside a star-studded supporting cast.
Test Your Knowledge of These Cult Classics and Hidden Gems With Collider’s Movie Quiz ](/movie-quiz-mar-26-2026-historical-dramas/)
Period Pieces are such a staple of movies, they might as well be their own genre. Dust off your history books to pass this test on Historical Dramas.
The movie we’re talking about is Dune: Part One, of course. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and based on the landmark novel by Frank Herbert, Dune grossed more than $410 million at the worldwide box office, against a reported budget of $165 million. It won six Oscars from 10 nods and is now sitting at a “Certified Fresh” 83% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus reads, “Dune occasionally struggles with its unwieldy source material, but those issues are largely overshadowed by the scope and ambition of this visually thrilling adaptation.” Released in 2024, Dune: Part Two grossed $715 million worldwide against a reported budget of $190 million. Dune: Part Three is set for a release this December, when it will clash with Avengers: Doomsday.
Dune was **among the most-watched movies on the global HBO Max charts **this week. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts, Frank Herbert
Herb Gains, John Harrison, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr., Mary Parent, Richard P. Rubinstein, Cale Boyter, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Joshua Grode
A noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy’s most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.