Dune: part two was a massive success, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, which won six Oscar awards in 2021. The sequel’s impressive box office performance, with a $390 million increase, and its current IMDB rating of 8.5/10, were expected to bring home several oscar nominations. However, the film received exactly half the number of Oscar nominations as the first movie.
- Historical context of Oscar wins
- Comparison with previous best director winners
- Academy’s voting trends
Dune: Part Two’s box office success was a significant factor in its Oscar nominations. The film grossed $390 million more than its predecessor, and it currently has a higher rating on IMDB. However, the film’s critical reception was also a key factor in its nomination. The movie received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its visuals, direction, and performances.
| Year | Movie | Best Director | best picture |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Dune: Part One | Denis Villeneuve | Won |
| 2025 | Dune: Part Two | Denis Villeneuve | Nominated |
The 2025 Oscars saw many first-time nominees, and it was one of the most competitive years in the annals of cinema. Sean Baker made history when he took home a staggering four wins, including Best Director and Best Picture for Anora. When he took the stage to accept his award for Best Director, this is likely where the makers behind Dune: Part Two knew they had lost out on the Best Motion Picture of the Year award. "The Academy doesn’t like to admit to trends, but there certainly is one when it comes to the correlation between Best Director and Best Picture wins. Across cinematic history, you can almost see producers twitching in their seats when the Best Director award is handed over. For example, Braveheart won both Best Director and Best Picture, as did Unforgiven, as did The Silence of the Lambs – and the list goes on," said a film critic. The Academy could be holding out for Dune: Part Three
Since the Oscars began close to a century ago, there has only been two sequels to win Best Picture – The Godfather Part II and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The Godfather Part II stands out in the fact that it followed on from its Best Picture-winning predecessor. To that, some might argue that Dune: Part Two never stood a chance at the 2025 Oscars as it was following on from a movie that lost a few years prior. However, on the flip side of that coin, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was not following on from such triumph, but proved to be the more acclaimed, and also the film in the trilogy that resonated the best with the Academy. Really, there is no clear formula, and if the Dune movies keep getting better, it could be that the Oscars are holding out on handing over that coveted Best Picture trophy. After much teasing, Dune 3 has been confirmed. In June 2024, Warner Bros announced that a previously untitled “event film” was now an “untitled Denis Villeneuve film.” Then, in July 2024, an IMAX presentation revealed that this will in fact be a Dune movie, which will hit theaters on December 18, 2026. This will be Villeneuve’s final adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune, the budget will be larger, and the cast will surely grow.
