Steven Spielberg Reveals His Top Sci-Fi Franchise, and a Highly Anticipated Sequel Is on the Way

Steven Spielberg, one of the most influential filmmakers in sci-fi, recently shared his admiration for the Dune movie series in an interview with Empire. The director, who is preparing to release his new film Disclosure Day this summer, called Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films some of his favorite science-fiction movies of all time.

Spielberg said, “Recently, I’ve loved the Dune movies. They are among my favourite science-fiction movies, not just recently, but of all time. Especially the second film.” He added, “I think [Part Two] is the best movie Denis has ever made.” The filmmaker also expressed excitement for the upcoming Dune: Part Three, which is set to hit theaters on December 18. “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,” Spielberg said.

The Dune franchise, based on Frank Herbert’s novels, began with the 2021 release of the first film, which earned six Oscars and received high praise from critics and audiences. Part Two, released in 2024, performed even better, winning two Oscars and earning strong reviews. Together, the first two films have grossed $1.12 billion worldwide. Spielberg compared Villeneuve’s dedication to the books to Guillermo del Toro’s work on Frankenstein, saying, “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.”

Outside of sci-fi, Spielberg shared his desire to direct other genres. He recently teased plans to make a Western, promising it would be fresh and avoid typical clichés. “I can’t reveal anything right now, but I have something in development… And it kicks ass. There will be no tropes, I can tell you that. There’s going to be no stereotypes,” he said.

Spielberg also revealed he has long wanted to make a horror film, inspired by movies like Zach Cregger’s Weapons. “I haven’t directed a horror film yet, and I’ve always wanted to, and someday I may. But there have been some great horror films out already that satisfy that itch. When I see a great horror film like Weapons, I don’t have an itch I need to scratch,” he explained.

Disclosure Day will premiere in theaters on June 12, giving audiences another chance to see Spielberg’s work on the big screen. Fans can also look forward to Dune: Part Three in December, continuing the story that Spielberg has called one of his all-time favorites.

It’s exciting to see Spielberg celebrate other filmmakers while continuing to push his own creative boundaries. His praise for Dune shows how much he respects storytelling in science fiction, and his interest in Westerns and horror suggests we have more surprises to look forward to. What do you think about Spielberg naming Dune as one of his favorite sci-fi franchises? Share your thoughts in the comments.