Start Dune with Denis Villeneuve's Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024). Dune: Prophecy is set 10,000 years earlier and works best as a companion once you know the Bene Gesserit. David Lynch's 1984 film and the Sci Fi Channel miniseries (2000 and 2003) adapt the same books separately.
- Titles
- 6
- Films
- 3
- Series
- 3
- Watch time
- 27 hours
- Box office
- $1.16 billion
- Avg IMDb
- 7.4
Dune movies in release order
Here is every Dune title in the order it came out, 1984 to 2024: 3 films and 3 series.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dune | 1984 | Film | 2h 16m | 6.2 |
| 2 | Frank Herbert's Dune | 2000 | Series | 4h 45m | 7.5 |
| 3 | Frank Herbert's Children of Dune | 2003 | Series | 4h 21m | 7.2 |
| 4 | Dune | 2021 | Film | 2h 35m | 8 |
| 5 | Dune: Prophecy | 2024 | Series | 10h 33m | 7.3 |
| 6 | Dune: Part Two | 2024 | Film | 2h 47m | 8.4 |
Dune timeline: movies in chronological order
The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.
| # | Title | Set in | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dune: Prophecy | 10,000 years before Paul | 2024 |
| 2 | Dune | Caladan & Arrakis | 2021 |
| 3 | Dune: Part Two | Arrakis | 2024 |
| 4 | Dune | Arrakis | 1984 |
| 5 | Frank Herbert's Dune | Arrakis | 2000 |
| 6 | Frank Herbert's Children of Dune | Twelve years later | 2003 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 6 titles here. In release order you start with Dune (1984); in story order you start with Dune: Prophecy, set in 10,000 years before Paul, which came out 40 years later.
First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns Dune into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Dune also runs 2 separate continuities: David Lynch's Dune and The miniseries. Each has its own line on the timeline, so you can watch them on their own without breaking the main story.
Where to start
Start with Dune and go in release order.
The whole thing is 27 hours. At two hours a night that is about 14 evenings.
The three highest rated: Dune: Part Two (8.4), Dune (8), and Frank Herbert's Dune (7.5).
Every Dune movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1984 · Film · 2h 16m · 4th in story order
Dune
In the year 10,191, the most precious substance in the universe is the spice Melange. The spice extends life. The spice expands consciousness. The spice is vital to space travel. The spice exists on only one planet in the entire universe, the vast desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. Its native inhabitants, the Fremen, have long held a prophecy that a man would come, a messiah who would lead them to true freedom.
Why it matters: David Lynch's cult adaptation of the whole novel.
- Starring
- Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis, and Patrick Stewart
- Director
- David Lynch
- Box office
- $32 million on a $40 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 36%
No. 02 · 2000 · Series · 4h 45m · 5th in story order
Frank Herbert's Dune
In the year 10,191, the most precious substance in the universe is the spice Melange. The spice extends life. The spice expands consciousness. The spice is vital to space travel. The spice exists on only one planet in the entire universe, the vast desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. Its native inhabitants, the Fremen, have long held a prophecy that a man would come, a messiah who would lead them to true freedom.
Why it matters: A faithful TV miniseries of the first novel.
- Starring
- Alec Newman, Barbora Kodetová, and Saskia Reeves
- Creator
- John Harrison
- Scores
- IMDb 7.5
- Episodes
- 3
No. 03 · 2003 · Series · 4h 21m · 6th in story order
Frank Herbert's Children of Dune
Twelve years following the events of Dune, the Atreides family must overcome a conspiracy that threatens to destroy their legacy and undermine their House in the eyes of The Empire. Only Paul's children can prevent this catastrophe from destroying everything and saving House Atreides from this malevolent force.
Why it matters: Adapts the second and third novels.
- Starring
- Alec Newman, James McAvoy, and Jessica Brooks
- Creator
- John Harrison
- Scores
- IMDb 7.2
- Episodes
- 3
No. 04 · 2021 · Film · 2h 35m · 2nd in story order
Dune
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence - a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential - only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Why it matters: Paul Atreides arrives on Arrakis; the place to start.
- Starring
- Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Oscar Isaac
- Director
- Denis Villeneuve
- Box office
- $411 million on a $165 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 8 · Rotten Tomatoes 83%
No. 05 · 2024 · Series · 10h 33m · 1st in story order
Dune: Prophecy
Ten thousand years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen establish the fabled sect and female order that would become known as the Bene Gesserit to control the future of humankind.
Why it matters: The Bene Gesserit, 10,000 years earlier; best after the films.
- Starring
- Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, and Travis Fimmel
- Creator
- Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker
- Scores
- IMDb 7.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 64%
- Episodes
- 14 across 2 seasons
No. 06 · 2024 · Film · 2h 47m · 3rd in story order
Dune: Part Two
Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Why it matters: Paul joins the Fremen; finishes the first novel.
- Starring
- Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson
- Director
- Denis Villeneuve
- Box office
- $715 million on a $190 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 8.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Dune box office and budgets
The 3 Dune films with reported numbers have grossed $1.16 billion worldwide on about $395 million in combined budgets, roughly 2.9 times what they cost. The biggest is Dune: Part Two at $715 million, 62% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Dune ($411 million) and Dune ($32 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Dune: Part Two, which made 3.8 times its $190 million budget. The weakest was Dune at 79% of its $40 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Dune movies
Across 6 rated titles, Dune averages 7.4 on IMDb. The top of the list is Dune: Part Two at 8.4, then Dune (8) and Frank Herbert's Dune (7.5). At the bottom: Dune (6.2) and Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (7.2).
- Dune: Part Two8.4 · RT 92%
- Dune8 · RT 83%
- Frank Herbert's Dune7.5
- Dune: Prophecy7.3 · RT 64%
- Frank Herbert's Children of Dune7.2
- Dune6.2 · RT 36%
Who appears in the most Dune movies
Alec Newman leads with 2 appearances as Paul Atreides and Muad'Dib, ahead of Barbora Kodetová (2) and P.H. Moriarty (2). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alec Newman | Paul Atreides / Muad'Dib | 2 | Frank Herbert's Dune (2000) to Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003) |
| Barbora Kodetová | Chani | 2 | Frank Herbert's Dune (2000) to Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003) |
| P.H. Moriarty | Gurney Halleck | 2 | Frank Herbert's Dune (2000) to Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003) |
| Julie Cox | Princess Irulan Corrino / Irulan Corrino-Atreides | 2 | Frank Herbert's Dune (2000) to Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003) |
| Timothée Chalamet | Paul Atreides | 2 | Dune (2021) to Dune: Part Two (2024) |
| Rebecca Ferguson | Lady Jessica Atreides / Jessica | 2 | Dune (2021) to Dune: Part Two (2024) |
| Stellan Skarsgård | Baron Vladimir Harkonnen / Baron Harkonnen | 2 | Dune (2021) to Dune: Part Two (2024) |
| Josh Brolin | Gurney Halleck | 2 | Dune (2021) to Dune: Part Two (2024) |
| Javier Bardem | Stilgar | 2 | Dune (2021) to Dune: Part Two (2024) |
| Dave Bautista | Beast Rabban Harkonnen / Beast Rabban | 2 | Dune (2021) to Dune: Part Two (2024) |
Dune directors and creators
5 filmmakers have directed or created Dune; John Harrison has the most, with 2.
- John HarrisonFrank Herbert's Dune (2000) and Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003)
- Denis VilleneuveDune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024)
- David LynchDune (1984)
- Diane Ademu-JohnDune: Prophecy (2024)
- Alison SchapkerDune: Prophecy (2024)
How long it takes to watch every Dune movie
All 6 titles add up to 27 hours: 8 hours of film and 20 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 14 two-hour evenings, or 3 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is Dune: Part Two at 2h 47m.
The 3 best rated films: Dune: Part Two, Dune, and Dune.
Everything takes about 4 weeks.
Dune: Part Three is out December 18, 2026. Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Upcoming Dune movies
- Dune: Part ThreeDecember 18, 2026
Common questions
What order should I watch the Dune movies in?
Start Dune with Denis Villeneuve's Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024). Dune: Prophecy is set 10,000 years earlier and works best as a companion once you know the Bene Gesserit. David Lynch's 1984 film and the Sci Fi Channel miniseries (2000 and 2003) adapt the same books separately.
How many Dune movies and shows are there?
There are 6 titles in the Dune franchise: 3 films and 3 series, released from 1984 to 2024. 1 more is announced: Dune: Part Three.
How long does it take to watch all the Dune movies?
About 27 hours for all 6 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first Dune title in chronological order?
Dune: Prophecy, set in 10,000 years before Paul. In release order the first is Dune (1984).
What is the next Dune release?
Dune: Part Three, out December 18, 2026.
What is the best Dune movie?
By IMDb score, Dune: Part Two (2024) at 8.4, followed by Dune at 8.
What is the highest-grossing Dune movie?
Dune: Part Two (2024), with $715 million worldwide. Dune films have made $1.16 billion in total.
Who has appeared in the most Dune movies?
Alec Newman, in 2 of them as Paul Atreides.
What is the longest Dune movie?
Dune: Part Two, at 2h 47m.
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