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Before Villeneuve conquered Arrakis, these influential films laid the groundwork for what makes Dune: Part Two a modern masterpiece.
Frank Herbert's sci-fi masterpiece Dune carried the ‘unadaptable’ label for decades until Villeneuve cracked the code. His 2021 version finally did justice to the novel that outsmarted previous filmmakers.
Part Two improves on the formula, with the sandworm riding sequences alone! Paul's descent into messiah territory and the backstabbing imperial politics create a perfect sci-fi experience. For those still thinking about Arrakis weeks later, here's what to watch next.
Blade Runner 2049's visuals are stunning. Roger Deakins' cinematography is pure poetry, especially in scenes where Ryan Gosling is walking alone with neon ads reflecting in puddles.
Connects to Dune through Villeneuve's trademark long-take shots that trusts viewers to absorb atmospheric details without unnecessary dialogue. Both films treat their settings as active characters rather than mere backdrops
Mad Max: Fury Road delivers non-stop momentum where modified Interceptors and bizarre tribal societies have emerged from a civilization's collapse that somehow makes perfect visual sense. George Miller's direction provides spatial awareness despite the fast and uncontrolled energetic action scenes. A trick few directors have mastered since Kurosawa.
The desert cinematography is similar to Dune. Both films make sand look absolutely terrifying yet beautiful. They also share the same practical effects approach that makes everything feel real even in the otherworldly landscape.
Lawrence of Arabia presents a historical narrative of personal ambition colliding against an empire. Peter O'Toole's striking blue eyes stand against the endless desert in a film that defined epic storytelling and influenced generations of filmmakers.
Paul Atreides is space Lawrence. Both protagonists are outsiders who adopt local customs, gain the trust of desert tribes, and ultimately lead them against technologically superior forces.
Arrival flips the alien invasion script by focusing on language instead of warfare. Amy Adams' linguist trying to decode circular heptapod writing creates more tension than any explosion could.
Both stories feature how different cultures communicate when words fail, raising questions about free will versus determinist philosophy.
Children of Men creates terrifying realism through extended takes. The six-minute refugee camp sequence pulls you into a broken world where hope seems impossible yet humanity persists.
The film connects with Dune through its reluctant messiah theme. Both ask: What happens when desperate people project salvation onto someone who never asked for it? Hint: nothing good.
The Last Emperor captured China's transition from the Qing Dynasty to the Communist state through one man's extraordinary life. Bertolucci somehow secured permission to film inside the actual Forbidden City, creating unmatched authenticity.
This movie parallels Paul's journey perfectly, both are trapped by destiny and tradition. The weight of the crown (or in Paul's case, that Fremen prophecy) crushes the person wearing it. Neither film shies away from showing the cost.
Sicario plunges the US-Mexico drug war into moral chaos. The tension during the convoy's return to American soil shows Villeneuve's ability to extract maximum anxiety from minimal action.
Like Dune, it's about systems bigger than any individual. Both films feature protagonists navigating systems where hidden agendas operate behind official narratives. Emily Blunt's face watching her ideals die is Timothée Chalamet watching his humanity slip away in Dune.
Prisoners transform suburban Pennsylvania into a psychological nightmare. Hugh Jackman, as a desperate father, crosses moral boundaries that can't be uncrossed in his search for a missing child.
Seeds of Dune are here, the transformation of good people when revenge becomes their purpose. Both ask if justice outside the system is worth the soul it costs. Neither offers comfortable answers.
These films don't just look amazing, they have something to say. Like Dune, they use unfamiliar worlds to spotlight familiar problems.
They respect the viewer's intelligence enough not to spell everything out. Not educating them, just immersive storytelling that sticks with you.
Pick one film for tonight if you're missing Arrakis. The spice might flow only on that desert planet, but these cinematic cousins deliver their kind of excellence.
