The anticipation for Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part Two’ has been building to a crescendo, and with the film’s world premiere taking place in London on February 15, early reactions are in. Critics are lauding the sequel for its breathtaking visuals, narrative, and standout performances, and netizens are in awe of Zendaya’s outfit on the red carpet.
After the premiere, film critics have been quick to highlight the sequel’s epic battle scenes, deeply personal narratives, and visual experience. Gregory Ellwood of The Playlist describes the film as ‘damn impressive,’ saying:
“‘Dune: Part Two‘ is damn impressive. Villeneuve crafts some truly VISIONARY moments. Austin Butler gives a truly transformative performance (and not talking makeup either). Very moving ending. A wee bit long? Yes. Did I forget I saw it the next day? Yes. Still, gonna be massive.”
Meanwhile, Hoai-Tran Bui from Inverse heralds the film as “a triumph,” noting its successful expansion compared to its predecessor:
“DUNE: PART TWO is a triumph. Even more immense than the first but much more intimate — Denis Villeneuve manages to streamline the more alienating second half of the book into a riveting, action-packed epic. TWO TOWERS-level mastery of battle sequences. Zendaya is the star.”
Steven Weintraub of Collider and Mike Ryan of Uproxx also shared their admiration, with Weintraub wishing for an even longer runtime than the film’s 2 hours and 40 minutes:
“In a shock to no one, I absolutely loved #Dune2. Incredible filmmaking. Brilliant score. The entire cast was excellent. My only complaint was I wish it was longer. Not joking around. The movie is 2 hours and 40 minutes long, and I would have been happy to watch it for another hour.”
The film is already being positioned as a breakthrough in the science fiction genre, with some critics placing it among the greatest sci-fi movies they have seen. The visual effects, score, and performances across the board have received high praise, with particular mentions of Chalamet and Zendaya’s roles.
You can see the tweets below.
Dune: Part Two is damn impressive. Villeneuve crafts some truly VISIONARY moments. Austin Butler gives a truly transformative performance (and not talking makeup either). Very moving ending. A wee bit long? Yes. Did I forget I saw it the next day? Yes. Still, gonna be massive. pic.twitter.com/ARooLrTK8z
— Gregory Ellwood – The Playlist 🎬 (@TheGregoryE) February 15, 2024
DUNE: PART TWO is a triumph. Even more immense than the first, but much more intimate — Denis Villeneuve manages to streamline the more alienating second half of the book into a riveting, action-packed epic. TWO TOWERS-level mastery of battle sequences. Zendaya is the star. pic.twitter.com/gUYD6g3onN
— Hoai-Tran Bui (@htranbui) February 15, 2024
In a shock to no one, I absolutely loved #Dune2. Incredible filmmaking. Brilliant score. Entire cast was excellent. My only complaint was I wish it was longer. Not joking around. The movie is 2hr and 40 min(?) and I would have been happy to watch another hour. pic.twitter.com/6PZmfQTEAH
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) February 15, 2024
I was kind of mixed on the first Dune. DUNE: PART TWO is phenomenal. Up there with the greatest sci-fi movies I’ve ever seen. I want to ride a sandworm. #DunePartTwo
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) February 15, 2024
Zendaya Rocked a Jaw-Dropping Bodysuit On Red Carpet
Beyond the screen, Zendaya made waves with her fashion choices at the film’s premiere. Dressed in a vintage Thierry Mugler bodysuit from the fall 1995 couture collection, styled by Law Roach, Zendaya turned heads and sparked conversations online, with some dubbing her as a fashion icon of her generation:
“Zendaya is proving once again that she is THE superstar of this generation.”
Others argued that Zendaya’s outfit choice was what brought publicity to the ‘Dune’ sequel:
“This one appearance from Zendaya alone just probably brought in so much more publicity for Dune 2 than ever before.”
The tweets are below.
Zendaya proving once again that she is THE superstar of this generation pic.twitter.com/ieisxO7H1V
— 🥥 (@cocointheclouds) February 15, 2024
this one appearance from zendaya alone just probably brought in so much more publicity for dune 2 than ever before pic.twitter.com/rVAK9dbRhv
— beyoncé fanpage 🇵🇸 (@FILMCHANI) February 15, 2024
‘Dune: Part Two’ follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he allies with the Fremen in a battle against the Harkonnen empire. The sequel not only brings back familiar faces like Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Josh Brolin but also introduces new characters played by Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux.
Following the commercial and critical success of the first film, which garnered over $400 million worldwide and several Oscar nominations, expectations for the sequel were high. Set for release on March 1, 2024, in the United States, the film’s early reactions, combined with Zendaya’s red-carpet moment, signal a promising launch for ‘Dune: Part Two.’
