Of the two movies that have been released so far, the award-winning filmmaker showed a preference for Dune: Part Two, which he claimed is the "best movie" that Villeneuve has ever made.
There are fewer than nine months until Dune: Part Three arrives in theaters (opening the same weekend as Avengers: Doomsday), but Spielberg is already excited to see how Villeneuve wraps up the trilogy. "I cannot wait to see the third one," he admitted, before adding that the director might show him an early screening of the film.
It's not just the movies that Spielberg is a fan of; he also loves the Dune novels by Frank Herbert. The ET director described Villeneuve's big-screen adaptation as being a tribute to the books in the same way that Guillermo del Toro crafted a tribute to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with his 2025 Netflix film. "He honored Mary Shelley as I think Denis honored Frank Herbert," Spielberg said.
Herbert wrote six Dune novels that were published from 1965 to 1985, including the sequels Dune Messiah (which the upcoming film is based on), Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse: Dune. Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson wrote additional stories set in the same world after Herbert died in 1986.
“Recently, I’ve loved the Dune movies. They are among my favorite science-fiction movies, not just recently, but of all time. Especially the second film. I think [Dune: Part Two] is the best movie Denis has ever made. I cannot wait to see the third one. I’m sure he’ll show it to me early. I’m such a fan of his. I love the [Dune] books, and I just think his tribute to the books is like Guillermo [del Toro]’s tribute to Mary Shelley with Frankenstein: he honored Mary Shelley as I think Denis honored Frank Herbert.”
Spielberg's high praise for Dune comes as IMAX 70mm tickets go on sale for Dune: Part Three, which stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Isaach de Bankolé, Charlotte Rampling, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin.
Villeneuve also directed the first two Dune films, which won eight Oscars and earned 15 nominations in total. At the box office, Dune and Dune: Part Two collectively grossed $1.1 billion and are Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (earning scores of 83% and 92%, respectively).
Spielberg knows all about winning Oscars, as he won two Best Director statues for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan, with the former also winning Best Picture.
Jurassic Park, E.T., Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and War of the Worlds are among his highest-grossing films, and Steven Spielberg himself is the top-grossing director of all time.
Dune: Part Three will be released in theaters on Friday, December 18, 2026.
Release Date
December 18, 2026
Image via Warner Bros.
English (US) ·