Desert power strikes again! “Dune: Part Two” revives the box office with massive $81.5 million debut

Let the spice (and the money) flow!

Movie theaters have finally found their savior — and yes, you guessed it, he wields desert power.

Dune: Part Two has revived the box office with the biggest debut of the year so far. Armed with sandworms, star-power, and a very memorable popcorn receptacle, the epic sci-fi sequel spiced up theaters nationwide, adding up to a massive opening weekend of $81.5 million domestically per Comscore.

This is double the opening of the first film, which debuted simultaneously on HBO Max in 2021.

After a months-long dry spell, filled with lackluster debuts, Part Two marks a welcome change of pace for the box office. Along with taking the top spot in the U.S., the film snagged the biggest global opening of the year, earning $178.5 million worldwide. Denis Villeneuve’s sequel — which boasts an A-list cast led by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya — marks the director’s biggest opening to date.

The adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel continues the saga of Paul Atreides as he treks across Arakkis with his mother (Rebecca Ferguson) and the Fremen, while plotting revenge on the conspirators who destroyed his family.

There’s a huge gap between the weekend’s first and second place titles. Still, Bob Marley: One Love continued its unexpected streak of success with an additional $7.4 million domestically, bringing its total to $82.7 million (a global cume of $146 million).

The musical biopic was trailed by faith-based drama, Ordinary Angels, which stars Hilary Swank as a fierce small-town hairdresser who crosses paths with a struggling widower and his two young daughters. As she sets out to help them, her story becomes an inspiring tale of everyday miracles and ordinary angels. The film picked up another $3.8 million, for a total of $12.5 domestically.

Swinging lower than ever, Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web added $3.2 million to its $40.4 million total ($91 million global cume). The film’s disappointing performance even earned a shoutout from star Sydney Sweeney, who used her Saturday Night Live monologue to poke fun at the box office flop.

“You might have seen me in Anyone But You or Euphoria,” Sweeney told the audience. “But you definitely did not see me in Madame Web.”

Below the blockbusters, a certain Christian drama continued its trend of snagging fifth place in the weekend box office: The Chosen Season 4, Episodes 7-8 celebrated another theatrical release to the tune of $3.1 million.

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

Related content:

• Inside the Dune dynasty: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh discuss the battle for Arrakis

• How the Dune: Part 2 ending sets up Dune Messiah

• Denis Villeneuve wants to make 'at least three' Dune movies
  

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.