The writers guild strikes forced WB to delay Villeneuve’s sci-fi sequel (originally slated for November of 2023) making it one of 2024’s most anticipated releases that hoped to deliver on the grand aspirations promised in the 2021 original remake but would this live up to the massive expectations and hype built from early buzz?

Dune: Part Two was once again directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken and Stellan Skarsgård. Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath 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, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

There aren’t many directors working today who can command a presence quite like Villeneuve and while I wasn’t the biggest fan of his original Dune outing, Part Two is a massive improvement.

The cast is outstanding filled with some of hollywoods brightest stars like Timothée Chalamet who commands the screen as Paul Atreides along with Zendaya whose equally as impactful overall and their relationship makes for some of the best emotional moments in the entire film.

Returning castmates Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem (he’s got some of the funniest scenes in the film I really enjoyed him) remain solid pieces but it’s newcomers Florence Pugh and Austin Butler who shine with Butler getting to deliver a presence that is equally intimidating and imposing.

The size and scale is once again amongst the best of the sci-fi genre with Villeneuve utilizing top notch cinematography from Greig Fraser (that’s somehow even better this time around) that’s filled to the brim with beautiful shots that you could frame on a wall along with visual splendor that’s amplified by on-location shooting to deliver a totally mesmerizing experience.

 It feels much more like a satisfying narrative as well with many of the pieces set up in Part One coming to fruition here and although there are a few minor nitpicks I have personally, it’s a big improvement that made me eager to see the next installment.

Dune: Part Two achieves the rare feat of a sequel that’s bigger and even better than its predecessor that showcases exactly why Denis Villeneuve is amongst the best directors working in Hollywood.