Dune: Part Two dominates VOD market, sets viewership records

We are already in June, with the first month of the summer season behind us, and "Dune: Part Two" remains the most popular film 2024. Now, the adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel is taking over the VOD market. Reports indicate that Denis Villeneuve's film has achieved record viewership on the MAX/HBO Max platform.

"Dune: Part Two" premiered at the end of February and has grossed $712 million in theaters. So far, it is the most prominent Hollywood hit of 2024, with $282 million in the United States and $430 million internationally. Interestingly, the film's director is not entirely pleased that his movie is still topping the box-office charts.

Last week, during the Toronto festival, he told journalists: "I'm disappointed to still be number one. ... I hope soon that there will be other successes at the box office. I hope, sooner or later, that this summer box office will be much better. I think we need movies that are theatrical experiences, that will fully embrace the power of the theatre."

So far, the summer season in theaters has seen a series of spectacular failures: "The Stuntman," "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 5," "Furiosa: Mad Max Saga." "Garfield" globally also performs below expectations. The only global hit has been "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," but unfortunately, it is struggling in theaters in some countries. If hits do not appear in the coming weeks, we may face the worst summer season of this century (excluding the pandemic year).

Low cinema attendance is related to, among other things, the growing popularity and the multitude of streaming platforms. More and more viewers are waiting for a theatrical production to appear on VOD. Viewers don't have to exhibit much patience, as a Hollywood film can already be watched at home after three months. It seems that only a few titles, such as the second part of "Dune," will be able to achieve spectacular success both in theaters and on the streaming platform.

Denis Villeneuve's film appeared on the streaming platform Max/HBO Max on May 21 and noted record viewership within the first week (unfortunately, the service does not provide more detailed information). Since its platform premiere, "Dune: Part Two" has maintained its leading position in all countries around the world.