The upcoming box office battle between Christopher Nolan’sThe Odysseyand Denis Villeneuve’sDune: Part Threeis going to be a true cinematic event in 2026. While nearly half a year separates their release dates, withThe Odysseyreleasing on May 26, 2025, andDune: Part Threecoming out on July 16, 2025, both films are set to be the biggest of the year, even if they won’t be squaring off head-to-head like2023’s historicBarbenheimershowdown. With Nolan still riding high off his Best Picture winnerOppenheimerand Villeneuve at the peak of his career, their 2026 release should be monumental.
People compare Nolan and Villeneuve a lot, based on their love of film, the epic scale of their movies, and mastery of the filmmaking craft, so this will be an interesting comparison to see in 2026.The Odysseywill adapt the classic Greek epic poemby Homer, which is one of humanity’s oldest stories.Dune: Part Threewill actually adapt the second bookof Frank Herbert’sDuneseries,Dune: Messiah, and will be a direct sequel to the Oscar-winningDune: Part Two.The OdysseyandDune: Part Threewill almost certainly cause some 2026 awards season buzz, setting them up to compete at the box office and the Academy Awards.
2026 Features A Big Movie Battle Between Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey & Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 3
Both Should Earn Awards Season Buzz & Be Top Performers At The Box Office
The OdysseyandDune: Part Threewill both feature performances by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, setting up massive years for them as well. Since Nolan and Villeneuve are considered two modern masters of auteur cinema,there will be inevitable comparisons betweenThe OdysseyandDune 3, even though they will not be released at the same time.
For Nolan, it doesn’t get much bigger than adapting an incredibly influential work likeThe Odyssey.
The Odysseyis poised to be a true cinematic feat on the level of Nolan’s recent and classic works, ranging from his iconicDark Knighttrilogy to his original filmsInceptionandInterstellar,and his historical epics likeDunkirkandOppenheimer. For Nolan, it doesn’t get much bigger than adapting an incredibly influential work likeThe Odyssey.
As forDune: Part Three, will should carry the momentum and critical acclaim ofDune: Part Twoon its back, its release is just as big, if not bigger, thanThe Odyssey.Nolan himself calledDune: Part TwoVilleneuve’s own version ofEmpire Strikes Back, which adds even more pressure to ensure thatDune: Part Threewon’t end up like the less favorableReturn of the Jedi. Dune has long been considered to be a difficult book to adapt for the screen, as evidenced by the late David Lynch’s attempt in 1984. Villeneuve, however, defied the odds with his impressive rendition in 2021 before making one of the best sci-fi movies ever withDune: Part Twolast year.
The Odyssey Or Dune 3 - Which Movie Will Be Bigger At The Box Office?
Nolan Has the Edge In Box Office Appeal
Both of theDunemovies have been critically acclaimed, receiving Rotten Tomatoes scores of 83% and 92%, respectively. That said, their box office performances haven’t necessarily reflected their quality. 2021’sDunesuffered from pandemic-stricken box offices but still pulled in more than $410 million.Dune: Part Twobecame the seventh highest-grossing film of 2024, earning just under $715 million worldwide. Although some people would callDune: Part Twothe best film of 2024, even better than Best Picture winnerAnora, the box office and Academy Awards still seemed to undervalue it to a degree.
The name Christopher Nolan has enormous box office appeal, similar to Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, and Martin Scorsese. That alone should fill seats whenThe Odysseyreleases next summer, although it would have to be just as good, if not better, than Oppenheimer to achieve its $976 million box office total.
Nolan has directed five movies that grossed more than $700 million, whereas Villeneuve has only directed one.
TheDunefranchise is still somewhat niche despite being one of the biggest blockbusters of 2024, whileNolan could direct a movie about just about anything and people will still go to see it. Additionally, Nolan has directed five movies that grossed more than $700 million, whereas Villeneuve has only directed one.
Why I’m More Excited For Dune: Part Three
Villeneuve Could Make The Best Sci-Fi Trilogy Of All Time
The Odysseywill undoubtedly be great, as with every Nolan film. The only real question is how great it will be. He’s adapting a tale as old as time and one of the few Greek stories that actually have a happy ending.It’s epic but predictable in its telling of a classic hero’s journey.Dune: Part Three, however, features Paul Atreides, who was a hero in the first two films, in a new, darker light, painting him more as a complex anti-hero.
Dune: Messiahis even harder to adapt than the originalDune, which adds to the suspense of whetherDune 3will be a masterpiece or a misfire.
Dune 3should look and feel more modern, andVilleneuve is on the brink of creating a sci-fi trilogy masterpiecethat could reasonably outdo the originalStar Wars.Dune: Messiahis even harder to adapt than the originalDune, which adds to the suspense of whetherDune 3will be a masterpiece or a misfire.
