By Anand Venkitachalam
New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) ‘Dune (2021)’, Warner Bros./Legendary’s feature adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic, has managed to feature in the top 10 films of 2021 according to the 93rd National Board of Reviews, though it has financially underperformed due to delays caused by Covid as well as streaming on HBO Max. The film has currently garnered a total $382.7 million at the box office against a budget of $165 million.
While there have been several attempts to bring out the Frank Herbert classic to the film screen, most have ended either in failure or mediocrity, and few could have expected ‘Dune(2021)’ to be as successful as it was in capturing a great essence of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic.
With many saying that ‘Dune’ has been a saving of grace of the cinematic experience post Covid times, more so with a steep decline marked in cinema going due to the availability of streaming services, the film has truly been a saving grace as such a film is best enjoyed in all its quality on the big screen.
The science fiction epic follows the journey of Paul Atreides, dealing with the story of House of Atreides plunged into the hostile desert world of Arrakis, the conflict for ‘spice’ and the survival against the giant desert worms.
Released on September 15, the movie is directed by French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve and is the first of a two-part series covering the first 1965 novel, with the second part scheduled for release in 2023.
Dune has been selected by the 93rd National Board Of Reviews alongside some other top heavyweights such as “Suicide Squad”, “A Quiet Place 2”, “King Richard” and “No Time To Die”. The film has been critically acclaimed for its direction, sound design, production, screenplay, visuals, cinematography, acting etc.
Fans of both the book and even those who have yet to read the novel have greatly appreciated the cinematic adaptation of the sci-fi classic.
“Dune” currently has managed to become the second highest grossing movie of Warner Bros. after “Godzilla” and “Kong”, which grossed over $468.8 million.
The year is yet to come to a close, with movies such as MCU’s “Spider Man No Way Home” and “The Matrix Resurrections” yet to be released, though without a doubt “Dune” has can easily be counted as among the finest achievements of not just 2021, but maybe the sci-fi genre as a whole.
UNI AN ING