Dune

Dune

Year: 2021

Runtime: 155 mins

Language: English

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Echo Score: 71

Budget: $165M

Adventure

Paul Atreides, a young man with a remarkable destiny, is thrust into a perilous journey to the desert planet Arrakis. To secure his family's future and the survival of his people, he must navigate a landscape rife with danger and political intrigue. The planet holds the universe’s most valuable resource, sparking conflict among powerful factions vying for control. Only those who can overcome their fears will have a chance to endure.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Dune (2021)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Dune (2021). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The far future, unspecified but likely several thousand years from now

The setting appears to be in a distant future where space travel, interstellar empires, and advanced technologies such as shields and atomics are commonplace. Society is divided into noble Houses, with political power exercised through complex alliances and conflicts over control of planetoids and resources like spice.

Location

Arrakis, Dune

Arrakis, also known as Dune, is a vast, arid desert planet famous for its expansive sand dunes and giant sandworms. It is the only source of the valuable spice melange, making it a strategic focal point for powerful factions. The planet's extreme climate and unique ecosystem have led the native Fremen to adapt remarkably to survive its perils.

🌍 Desert 🪱 Sandworms 🌾 Spice 🏜️ Harsh Environment

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:44

Main Characters – Dune (2021)

Meet the key characters of Dune (2021), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson)

A Bene Gesserit and mother to Paul, Lady Jessica is a skilled and secretly powerful figure who navigates political and spiritual worlds. She is fiercely protective of her son and possesses deep knowledge of the Bene Gesserit’s motives and traditional rituals, often balancing her loyalty to her order with her love for her family.

🧙️ Bene Gesserit 💪 Protective 🤫 Mysterious

Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac)

The noble head of House Atreides, Duke Leto is a strategic and compassionate leader committed to his people. He seeks to forge alliances and protect his family while navigating treacherous political landscapes, understanding that his control of Arrakis is a fragile but crucial position.

👑 Leadership ⚖️ Strategist 🤝 Diplomatic

Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet)

The young heir of House Atreides, Paul is a complex character showing signs of extraordinary mental and physical potential. His visions, dreams, and combat skills suggest a destined role as a messianic figure, caught between his human upbringing and the powerful forces shaping his future.

🕵️‍♂️ Visionary ⚔️ Warrior 🌌 Chosen

Chani (Zendaya)

A Fremen girl and Paul’s love interest, Chani embodies the desert resilience and spiritual depth of her people. Her connection with Paul hints at a significant role in his destiny and symbolizes hope for the future of Arrakis.

🌹 Fremen 💫 Mystic ❤️ Love Interest

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:44

Major Themes – Dune (2021)

Explore the central themes of Dune (2021), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Power and Conquest

The movie explores the struggle for dominance among noble houses, through military might, political intrigue, and strategic alliances. The control of Arrakis and its spice highlights how resource scarcity fuels conflicts, shaping the destinies of individuals and entire civilizations.

🔮 Fate and Destiny

Paul’s visions and the Fremen’s prophecies suggest a destiny intertwined with messianic themes. The narrative examines how individuals confront their perceived roles in shaping history, often against overwhelming odds, and the tension between free will and destiny.

🧠 Knowledge and Power

The film underscores the importance of mental and physical training, with characters like the Bene Gesserit and Mentats illustrating how knowledge, discipline, and manipulation can influence the course of events. The potential of Paul as the Kwisatz Haderach hints at the convergence of wisdom and power shaping the universe.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:44

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Epic Sci-Fi Sagas of Political Machinations like in Dune

Grand narratives where interstellar empires clash through schemes, warfare, and betrayal.Explore movies like Dune, where complex science-fiction worlds are defined by imperial conflict and political intrigue. If you enjoyed the high-stakes power struggle between noble houses on Arrakis, these similar epic sagas feature sprawling narratives, intricate world-building, and the tense, chess-like maneuvering of interstellar factions vying for control.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist—often from a ruling or gifted lineage—thrust into a central conflict between powerful, well-established factions. The plot unfolds through a series of strategic moves, betrayals, and battles, where understanding the complex political landscape is as crucial as physical survival. Character arcs are often about ascending to a position of power or fulfilling a destiny shaped by these galactic-scale forces.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core focus on building a believable, complex sci-fi universe where political strategy drives the narrative. They create a similar vibe of high-stakes tension, grandeur, and intellectual engagement, appealing to viewers who enjoy seeing large-scale power dynamics play out in a richly detailed futuristic setting.

Weighty Journeys of Prophecy and Destiny like in Dune

Stories where a character's foretold path brings immense burden and transformation.Discover movies like Dune that focus on a protagonist's heavy burden of a messianic destiny. If you were captivated by Paul Atreides's struggle with his foretold path and visions of a holy war, these similar films explore the psychological and emotional weight of prophecy, the ambiguity of chosen ones, and the transformative, often isolating, nature of fate.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character discovering they are the subject of a prophecy or have a unique, destiny-shaping ability. This revelation forces them on a path fraught with danger and moral ambiguity. The story explores their internal conflict, the manipulation by those who believe in the prophecy, and the often-ambiguous consequences of fulfilling—or averting—the destiny laid out for them.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups movies based on their shared exploration of the 'chosen one' archetype, with a specific focus on the burden and ambiguity of destiny rather than a straightforward heroic journey. They share a heavy emotional weight, a tone of solemn foreboding, and a central theme of grappling with a future that feels both inevitable and terrifying.

Unlock the Full Story of Dune

Don't stop at just watching — explore Dune in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Dune is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Dune Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Dune, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Dune Summary

Dune Timeline

Track the full timeline of Dune with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Dune Timeline

Dune Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Dune that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Dune Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Dune

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Dune: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Dune

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