After what seemed like a long wait, Dune has finally hit theaters in the United States. And, based on its box office performance, it seems like the delay was well worth it. Despite the simultaneous release of the sci-fi epic on HBO Max, fans seem to have chosen to see Dune on the big screen. Per variety, Dune took home $40,1 million in its opening weekend at the North American box office, numbers that make it the best-performing Warner Bros. film of the pandemic era. That record was held by Godzilla vs Kong, which grossed €31 million in March. Dune's global box office is now sitting at €221 million and, coupled with its positive critical reception, should mean a sequel is on. After all, Dune only covers the first half of Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi novel, so a follow-up is needed to complete its story. So is Dune Part 2 just a formality right now? Or is his future still up in the air? Right now, it seems like it's only a matter of time before Dune Part 2 gets the green light. Speaking to Variety following the release of Dune's North American box office numbers, Warner Bros. Home Distribution president Jeff Goldstein said: “I'm smiling. The exhibitors are delighted. The best part is that fans love what they see. They love the big screen experience. It's a weekend winner for moviegoers." In a separate interview with Deadline, WarnerMedia Studios Network President and CEO Ann Sarnoff quipped, "Will we get a sequel to Dune? If you watch the movie, you'll see how it ends. Basically the answer to that." These comments, plus Dune's ticket sales, suggest a sequel is on the way. In fact, there's only one other Warner Bros. movie that could top Dune's box office performance in 2021, and that is The Matrix: Resurrections. Given the hype and nostalgia surrounding the fourth Matrix movie, its cash receipts are likely to dwarf Dune's. Still, Dune has done well to achieve box office success it has. With Covid-19 cases rising in several US states, many fans may have opted to stay home and watch on HBO Max. It's unclear how many people watched Dune from the comfort of their Households: Warner Bros. likely won't release its HBO Max viewership data just yet, so for now, Dune's theatrical run is all we have to do And, since it's currently the 2021th-highest-grossing movie XNUMX performance (according to Box Office Mojo), it seems fans have mostly opted to see it in theaters rather than on HBO Max.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) While Dune Part 2 is more likely, there's no guarantee that a sequel will be greenlit. With a production budget of $165 million, Dune (at first glance) seems to have made good money for Warner Bros. and legendary pictures. This is before factoring in the film's marketing costs, which will undoubtedly be substantial. Of course, Dune will rely on merchandise sales and new HBO Max subscribers to boost its coffers. But those will pale in comparison to its box office receipts, which are the top revenue for any movie studio. So it's likely that Warner Bros. wants to see a return on investment before pouring another potential $165-200 million into a sequel. And, with Dune needing an additional €80 million to break the €300 million global box office barrier, there's no guarantee it will.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) Then there's the possibility of Warner Bros. expanding the Dune universe through the TV show format on HBO Max. An upcoming spin-off series, Dune: The Sisterhood, is currently in development for the Warner Bros. streaming service. Focusing on the powerful women's organization known as the Bene Gesserit, The Sisterhood will serve as a prequel to Dune and show whether there is an appetite for audience for other stories in the Dune universe. If Warner Bros. ends up hesitating to greenlight Dune Part 2, Dune: The Sisterhood's performance on HBO Max could help the studio decide whether or not fans want Dune Part 2. While The Sisterhood's viewership numbers aren't great, audiences may not be entirely excited about Dune or its TV show spinoff. So a Dune sequel could receive a lukewarm response. Still, Dune: The Sisterhood is still in its infancy. If Warner Bros. delays greenlighting Dune Part 2 to see how The Sisterhood is received, it won't be able to take advantage of the current public interest in the Dune series. So it's probably in the studio's best interest to make a decision beforehand.
(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary Pictures) Does Dune's box office performance justify a potential sequel? In our opinion, yes, especially considering the HBO Max factor. Its positive critical response and ticket sales are proof that audiences want a second Dune movie. And, given the comments made by Warner Bros. execs, the studio knows it, too. Warner Bros. has taken a monetary hit with some of its other 2021 releases: In The Heights and The Suicide Squad, for example. But I hope Dune performed well enough to get this sequel. Truth be told, we wouldn't be surprised if Dune Part 2 is confirmed in a week or two. The public has shown that they want more productions set in this universe and Warner Bros. spoke openly about wanting this to happen. Surely now it is only a matter of time.