Summary

• IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond acknowledges running out of seats due to overwhelming demand for Dune: Part Two.
• Gelfond praises the film's success, attributing it to the combination of visuals, story, and filmmaker talent.
• IMAX screenings for Dune: Part Two are booked for the next three weeks at certain locations, highlighting the movie's engaging experience.

IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond has responded to the massive success of Dune: Part Two, saying they ran out of seats because of how popular it was. Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic adapts the second half of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel Dune, featuring Paul Atreides' rise as the Fremen's prophet. The film had a stunning opening weekend, earning $82.5 million domestically and $182.5 million globally.

Speaking with Dune: Part Two's critically acclaimed release. The CEO was impressed by how, for some theaters, IMAX screenings are booked for the next three weeks. He praised the movie for its financial performance and engaging experience. Check out what Gelfond had to say below:

The only reason it wasn’t higher is we ran out of seats.

The lesson is that if you take a beautiful visual experience, a good story and you put it in the hands of a brilliant filmmaker with an IMAX camera, you’re going to get very good results.

Why Dune 2 Is Performing Well In Theaters

The new sci-fi film is a direct sequel to 2021's Dune, picking up not long after the end of the first movie. The film accurately depicts the themes and structure of Herbert's novel, offering a conclusive note to the story that began in the first movie. While Dune: Part Two features some book changes throughout, it still resonates as a layered messiah story about prophecy and revenge.

The first movie's 2021 release happened while the Covid-19 pandemic was ongoing, meaning its performance was hindered by less people going to see films in theaters. Even so, it made $434.8 million on a $165 million budget, making it successful enough to warrant its planned sequel. However, now that enough time has ed for a wider audience to see the first movie – coupled with lifted pandemic restrictions – the newest installment is on track to far sur the first movie's success.

Dune: Part Two is on par with Oppenheimer's opening weekend performance, the latter film earning $960.7 million by the end of its theatrical run.

Because the film is performing so well, it seems inevitable that Villeneuve's planned Dune 3, based on Herbert's sequel novel Dune Messiah, will happen. However, he's stated he doesn't want to rush the movie, meaning it could be a few years until there's another follow-up. Despite this, Dune: Part Two has made its mark on cinema in 2024, on track to continue its stellar box office performance in the coming weeks.

Source: CNBC