This Sci-Fi movie franchise is flying high.
A few of the most iconic sci-fi movie franchises of all time are returning to the big screen this year. One of those is Star Wars, which is taking Pedro Pascal’s Disney+ adventures to theaters with The Mandalorian & Grogu. 2026’s sci-fi movie lineup also includes some exciting new releases, such as Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary, which is currently the talk of the town.
However, when all is said and done, the biggest sci-fi release in theaters of 2026 might not be any of those films, but the new entry in a franchise that is closing a major chapter. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies have been huge hits at the box office, while also being critically acclaimed. The anticipation is high for Dune: Chapter Three, boosting other films.
According to FlixPatrol, both Dune movies are trending on HBO Max in the United States after the release of the first Dune: Part Three trailer on March 17. At the time of writing, Dune: Part Two is the 7th most-watched movie on HBO Max nationwide, while the franchise’s first entry, 2021’s Dune, stands one step above it, as the streamer’s 6th most-watched film.
The Dune movies leave behind the documentary Fukushima, about Japan’s nuclear disaster; Ryan Gosling’s Crazy, Stupid, Love, which is likely experiencing a streaming resurgence thanks to Project Hail Mary‘s theatrical success; and the Steve Carell comedy Evan Almighty. HBO Max’s United States movie chart is dominated by Sinners, the most nominated movie in Oscars history, after Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor win.
Sinners also happens to be the most-watched movie on HBO Max globally. Only the first Dune makes the streaming service’s worldwide list, currently standing at 10th. The 2021 space opera is trending in 15 countries. Its best position on HBO Max is 2nd, in Turkey. As for the sci-fi movie’s sequel, Dune: Part Two is trending in 9 countries.
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The first Dune: Part Three trailer has been released, and fans of the Sci-Fi franchise are in for a rude awakening, as the movie forever changes it.
The second Dune movie’s highest spot is 4th, in the Netherlands. The Dune franchise keeps growing. Timothée Chalamet’s first time as Paul Atreides finished its global box office run with a strong $410.7 million. The sequel improved on that immensely, as Dune: Part Two finished its theatrical run with a mighty $718.8 million. It stands to be seen if the trilogy finale can break $1 billion.
At the moment, there are no other Dune movies in development beyond Dune: Part Three. However, there are more books in the sci-fi franchise to adapt, and director Denis Villeneuve has said that he will plant the seeds for those stories in the upcoming 2026 release, though this is his last Dune movie. With the franchise surging on streaming, Dune: Part Three is expected to perform well.