“Dune moves to Netflix after success on HBO Max
“Dune, one of HBO Max’s (now just Max) biggest film projects of 2021, will now be available on Netflix.
What we know:
Yesterday, Netflix’s official Twitter account published a post announcing that starting October 1, users will be able to watch Dune on the platform.
The spice must flow. Denis Villeneuve's DUNE is coming October 1. pic.twitter.com/ugGk5LxuBW
— Netflix (@netflix) September 26, 2023
It is not yet clear whether the movie will be available only on Netflix in the US or in other countries.
Dune initially had an unusual history of online screenings. Back in 2020, the film was included in a list of films, including Mortal Kombat, The Suicide Squad, Godzilla vs. Kong, and The Matrix Resurrections, that changed the usual rules of the industry. During the COVID-19 quarantine, Warner Bros. have announced that their entire 2021 movie repertoire will be available simultaneously on HBO Max on the day of theatrical release.
Initially, the films were available only on HBO Max for a month before becoming exclusives for theaters and then moving to home distribution. However, they eventually returned to HBO Max, which confused the audience a bit.
Thus, Dune remains available on Max and will soon be available on Netflix. This is probably a strategy to attract more viewers to Denis Villeneuve’s epic before the sequel is released.
As a reminder, Dune: Part 2 was supposed to be released on November 3, 2023, but Warner Bros. has postponed the release to March 15, 2024. The dates have been changed due to the ongoing Hollywood actors’ strike, probably because the film’s stars, such as Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, would not be able to start the tour in the face of the ongoing strikes.
