All 3 ‘Dune’ Movies in Order (Including TV Series)
People know that Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ franchise is for science-fiction and that Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is for fantasy; ironically enough, Tolkien was not a big fan of ‘Dune,’ but that is a completely different topic. Frank Herbert has written a total of six novels, but the literary franchise was continued by his son, Brian, and author Kevin J. Anderson. Today, ‘Dune’ is not just one of the most important sci-fi franchises but also one of the biggest ones.
Despite its massive popularity, it was never adapted as some other sci-fi stories, and currently, the ‘Dune’ franchise has three live-action adaptations under its belt and 2 TV shows consisting of three episodes each. Today, we’re going to tell you how to watch them in order.
Editor’s Note: This watch order was updated in March 2024 with the release of ‘Dune: Part Two’
Both ‘Dune’ movies & series in release date order
We’ve said that Frank Herbert’s Dune has been adapted for the screen on several occasions. Now, Alejandro Jodorowsky tried to adapt the book in 1973, but the adaptation ultimately failed and was the topic of the lauded documentary movie ‘Jodorowsky’s Dune.’
Also, the contemporary adaptation by Denis Villeneuve actually consists of two parts of an intended trilogy, which explains the title. But, unlike some other franchises, ‘Dune’ has also been adapted for television, with two critically acclaimed shows – ‘Frank Herbert’s Dune’ and F’rank Herbert’s Children of Dune.’ Both of these miniseries have received praise and several awards, including the prestigious Emmy Awards. Here are all ‘Dune’ adaptations in release date order.
- ‘Dune’ (1984)
- ‘Frank Herbert’s Dune’ – miniseries (2000)
- ‘Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune’ – miniseries (2003)
- ‘Dune: Part One’ (2021)
- ‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)
Are all ‘Dune’ movies & shows connected? What’s the best way to watch them?
The ‘Dune’ movies aren’t part of a single narrative universe, so you don’t have to watch them in any specific order. Villeneuve’s movies are definitely connected however and should be watched in their proper release date order. As for the miniseries, ‘Children of Dune’ is actually a sequel to ‘Dune,’ so you should watch them in the proper order. As far as the franchise stands now, it’s probably best if you watch everything in release date order.
All ‘Dune’ movies & shows in chronological order
Since all ‘Dune’ adaptations are standalone works, there is no fixed order. The order, as presented here, is how we think you should watch the adaptations. Lynch’s ‘Dune’ should be a start because it was the first, after which you can approach Villeneuve’s first movie, before continuing with the two miniseries.
1. ‘Dune’ (1984)
In the 1984 ‘Dune’ film, directed by David Lynch, the story is set in the distant future and revolves around the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the valuable spice melange. The noble House Atreides, led by Duke Leto, is assigned to oversee Arrakis, leading to political intrigue, betrayal, and a struggle for control of the spice production. Paul Atreides, the Duke’s son, becomes central to a prophecy foretelling his destiny on Arrakis.
2. ‘Frank Herbert’s Dune’
In the miniseries adaptation of Herbert’s novel ‘Dune,’ the character Paul Atreides is aged to adulthood, deviating from the source material to utilize an adult acting pool for this pivotal role. The adaptation introduces an extended subplot for Princess Irulan, a character with a limited role in the original novel, to provide insight into House Corrino and set the stage for her significant role in later books. While Irulan’s appearances in the miniseries differ from the novel, the adaptation alters her motive for visiting Feyd-Rautha, distinct from Bene Gesserit’s role in the book.
3. ‘Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune’ (2003)
In ‘Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune’ (2003), the miniseries adaptation continues the saga of the desert planet Arrakis. Set several years after the events of ‘Dune,’ it focuses on Paul Atreides, now Emperor of the Known Universe, and his twin children, Leto II and Ghanima. The story explores political intrigue, religious prophecy, and the transformation of Leto II into a mysterious figure known as the God-Emperor as the Atreides family faces new challenges and threats to their rule.
4. ‘Dune: Part One’ (2021)
‘Dune’ (2021) was the second movie adaptation of the first novel and set the foundations for what will be Villeneuve’s trilogy. The first movie introduces us to Paul, Arrakis, and Chani and we are starting to see the glimpses of what kind of a man Paul will become.
5. ‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)
‘Dune: Part Two’ adapts the second part of the first book and follows Paul as he comes to terms with his destiny as Kwisatz Haderach. Embracing his prescience Paul manages to get revenge for the betrayal of his father and set humanity on the Golden Path.
Where to watch all the above-mentioned movies & shows?
‘Dune’, released in 1984, can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, Mubi, Starz, and Lionsgate+. The first miniseries ‘Frank Herber’s Dune’ can be streamed on Freevee and Pluto. The second miniseries, ‘Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune’, can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video and Plex. ‘Dune: Part 1’ can be streamed on Max and ‘Dune: Part Two’ is still exclusively in cinemas, but will also arrive on Max once its theatrical run finishes.
Will there be more ‘Dune’ movies & shows?
Director Denis Villeneuve has already expressed interest in creating a third film based on ‘Dune Messiah,’ back when the first movie was released and then once again prior to the release of ‘Dune: Part Two,’ but it would be heavily dependent on the success of the recently released movie.
Plans for the film were repeated by screenwriter Eric Roth, and Hans Zimmer had already begun composing music for it. Now that we’ve seen the success of the second movie, we can confirm that it’s happening and it’s going to be epic. Villeneuve aims for the third film to conclude a trilogy and is carefully developing the script to ensure quality over rushing for release dates, which is something that he has issues with in general in Hollywood.
Also, In June 2019, Legendary Television revealed plans for a spin-off series titled ‘Dune: The Sisterhood,’ serving as a prequel to the film and focusing on the Bene Gesserit, initially with Denis Villeneuve directing the pilot and Jon Spaihts as the writer.
However, in November 2019, Spaihts shifted focus to the sequel film, and in July 2021, Diane Ademu-John took over as showrunner. Despite a hiatus in production announced in February 2023 and the exit of director Johan Renck, the series, now titled ‘Dune: Prophecy,’ remains in development, with Johan Renck directing the first two episodes and actor Travis Fimmel joining the cast in November 2022.
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