Director behind Dune gives you seven other movie recommendations

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve once revealed his favorite movies and there are seven from the 2010s you should seek out.

French-Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has directed such acclaimed movies as Prisoners, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and more recently the 2021 sci-fi epic Dune, based on the classic 1965 novel from author Frank Herbert. The long-anticipated sequel, Dune: Part Two, hits theaters on Friday, March 1st 2024. As my excitement’s been building I checked out a list of Denis’ 20 favorite movies and there are seven from the 2010s he’ll really want you to see…

A Star Is Born (2018)

The 2018 American romantic drama and musical A Star Is Born will undoubtedly be a favorite movie of many, not just Denis’.

It was the directorial feature debut of actor Bradley Cooper (The Hangover), in which he starred as Jackson Maine, a troubled musician who begins to mentor a singer-songwriter named Ally (played by Lady Gaga).

It’s the fourth adaptation of the story but lots of audiences consider it the best one, earning eight Academy Award nominations at the 91st Oscars. Showcasing mesmerizing chemistry between the two leads, who both give incredible performances, A Star Is Born is a timeless tearjerker we’ll remember for years to come. You can stream it on Hulu.

The Beguiled (2017)

Director Sofia Coppola recently earned acclaim for her 2023 biographical drama Priscilla and I’d argue every one of her movies has been something to shout home about.

In 2017, she turned her attention to adapting the 1966 novel The Beguiled with a cast including Colin Farrell, Kirsten Dunst, and Nicole Kidman. With a rich southern gothic atmosphere, the movie follows wounded Civil War soldier John McBurney taking refuge in an all-girls boarding school. His presence disrupts the balance of the house, leading to disastrous and unexpected consequences.

Tackling universal themes of jealousy and rivalry, I left the theater in awe after this one. Fortunately, it’s on Netflix.

Dunkirk (2017)

Christopher Nolan is a filmmaker whose work is somewhat inescapable: The Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar are modern classics at this point. Before the monumental success of Oppenheimer, he crafted the ambitious war movie Dunkirk depicting the titular evacuation of World War II.

Told from three different perspectives and playing with time, it’s a masterfully executed thriller that made for one hell of a memorable theatrical experience—I went to see it twice, and you can stream it now on Peacock, along with the next entry…

Inception (2010)

With even more love for Nolan, it’s wonderful to see that Inception is also a favorite of the Dune director’s.

The sci-fi action movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a thief who steals information from victims by breaking into their subconscious. Everything from the mind-bending visuals to that cliffhanger ending makes this a perfect movie, and I’d personally argue it as the best blockbuster ever made.

mother! (2017)

Easily the most divisive movie on this list, mother! is a nightmarish and surreal fantasy drama from The Whale director Darren Aronofsky.

Jennifer Lawrence plays a young woman whose home life with her husband is plunged into chaos upon the arrival of a mysterious couple.

Serving as a parable on God and Earth, the movie is not for everybody and definitely not for the faint-hearted. I’m firmly in the ‘It’s brilliant’ camp and there are sequences seared into my brain forever.

The Square (2017)

Satire is tricky to get right but Ruben Östlund makes it look all too easy in this hilarious and thought-provoking black comedy starring Claes Bang (The Northman) as the curator of an art museum in Stockholm who encounters a series of obstacles when launching a new exhibit.

The film leaves you with so much to discuss and takes aim at the pretentiousness of the art world with more creativity than most of its contemporaries.

Under The Skin (2013)

British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer recently returned with his fourth feature The Zone Of Interest, nominated for Best Picture at the upcoming Oscars. Before that, his previous film was Under The Skin, an adaptation of Michael Faber’s 2000 novel of the same name.

Scarlett Johansson plays a mysterious woman who drives around Scotland picking up a bunch of different men. However, she harbors a deadly secret and presents a danger to the unsuspecting strangers she encounters.

I remember reading the book and being so impressed, and yet, somehow the cast and crew managed to turn it into something even more profound and fascinating. It’s one of the best films of the 2010s, and don’t just take my word for it, take Denis’.

You can stream it on Max and Hulu.