Dune: Part Two has arrived and it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest movies of the year but if you’ve found yourself wanting to delve into another enthralling story in the same vein as the Denis Villeneuve epic, here are 12 movies you need to watch.
Whether they’re sci-fi epics in their own right, incredible stories that have similar elements to Dune or they’re other movies by the acclaimed Canadian director, there are plenty of movies to watch if you loved Part Two.
1. Dune (1984)
Where else to begin than with David Lynch’s 1984 attempt at adapting Frank Herbert’s legendary novel? Its 1980s special effects and truncated runtime make it a cheesy and at times rushed-feeling film in comparison to Denis Villeneuve’s two-part epic, but it’s got to be worth watching purely for the comparisons that can now be made between the two adaptations.
2. Star Wars: A New Hope
There can be no question that George Lucas’s enduring space opera was influenced in one way or another by Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, from the sandy setting of the planet Tatooine, similarities between the powers of the Force and the Voice and even the inclusion of a drug named Spice.
And now that Star Wars has gone on to become the world’s biggest sci-fi franchise, it’s no surprise that Denis Villeneuve had to “negotiate the influence of Star Wars,” for his adaptation, saying in a guest column for Empire Magazine that “it’s full circle.”
3. Blade Runner 2049
Denis Villeneuve’s last movie before turning his attention to Dune, 2017’s Blade Runner 2049 is a dystopian sci-fi that arguably improves on its 1982 predecessor, itself regarded as a classic of the genre. With Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford leading a stellar cast, the movie explores many complex themes and is quite possibly one of the best-looking films ever made.
4. Interstellar
Interstellar is regarded by many as one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies and like Dune, it’s centered around space exploration as Matthew McConaughey leads a team of astronauts in an effort to find a new home for humanity.
Another similarity between Interstellar and Dune is the surprise appearance of a teenage Timothée Chalamet in what was only his second film role.
5. Lawrence of Arabia
Regarded as one of the best films of all time, Lawrence of Arabia is based on the real-life exploits of TE Lawrence, during the First World War. Much like Paul Atreides and the Fremen of Arrakis, Lawrence assimilates into the Arab culture and brings its people together to fight against the Ottoman Empire.
Not only are there plenty of stunning desert vistas to marvel at, but the scope of the film’s production is absolutely monumental.
6. Arrival
While Denis Villeneuve had earned moderate success for his early films, 2016’s Arrival is the movie that put him on the map, particularly for sci-fi fans. The movie follows a linguistics professor (Amy Adams) as she is recruited by the US military to commune with aliens who have landed on Earth.
The meticulously crafted and intellectually engaging film is a welcome change of pace from the usual action-oriented sci-fi movies out there.
7. Gladiator
Like Dune, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator follows its main character’s (Russell Crowe) quest for vengeance against an emperor who ordered the death of his family.
While Gladiator may not feature any sci-fi elements, its setting in Ancient Rome is arguably just as alien but its jaw-dropping action and stunning visuals make it a must-watch for any film fan.
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
As Dune: Part Two is a sequel, the most logical comparison within The Lord of the Rings franchise would be to The Two Towers. But as it makes little sense to start watching a film trilogy with its second entry, the only option is to begin with The Fellowship of the Ring.
Like Dune, The Lord of the Rings is an epic saga spanning multiple books and while one is viewed as a masterpiece of the sci-fi genre, the other is an undoubted masterpiece of the fantasy genre.
9. Prisoners
2013’s Prisoners was Denis Villeneuve’s first English-language movie and the director pulled out all the stops for this mystery crime thriller that boasts a frankly ridiculous cast that includes Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis and Paul Dano among others,
10. The Godfather
While mafia movie The Godfather – one of the best films ever made – may have little connection to science fiction, the 1972 Francis Ford Coppola crime epic does have an unexpected amount of parallels to Dune.
The most obvious is the narrative thread that sees Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone, the family patriarch, pass the family business down to his son, Al Pacino’s Michael, when they find themselves under attack.
11. Avatar
The highest-grossing film of all time, Avatar is another movie that shares plenty of similarities to Dune and indeed films like Lawrence of Arabia. It follows human marine Jake Sully as he integrates into the alien species of the Na’vi and decides to fight back against the human invaders who attempt to mine a rare material from the planet, Pandora.
While Pandora may be covered in lush jungle – and beautifully blue seas as we saw in the sequel – it remains just as visually stunning as Dune’s desert world of Arrakis.
12. Sicario
And finally, we end with 2015’s Sicario, an action-packed political thriller that helped cement Denis Villeneuve’s status as a director to keep an eye on.
Starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Daniel Kaluuya and Dune’s Josh Brolin, the movie cranks up the tension with almost every scene and is well worth a watch if you want to witness a master director at work.
