The second part of the science fiction blockbuster “Dune” opened at the North American box office and brought in 81.5 million US dollars in its first weekend, as the specialist company Exhibitor Relations estimated on Sunday.
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The feature film of more than 2 hours and 30 minutes, still directed by Quebecois Denis Villeneuve, offers a magnificent spectacle but also a reflection on power, faith and fanaticism.
The main character, played by French-American star actor Timothée Chalamet, completes his transformation by becoming the expected messiah, a vengeful leader after his lineage is wiped out.
- Listen to the press review commented by Alexandre Dubé above QUB :
The hostile planet “Dune”, imagined by the American writer Frank Herbert, also makes it possible to convey messages about ecology, from the scarcity of water to the industrial plunder of resources.
The numbers achieved in Canadian and American cinemas this weekend were “extraordinary” for a science fiction film, commented analyst David A. Gross. It's also currently the best score of the year for a release.
The cast also includes other stars such as Zendaya, Léa Seydoux and Javier Bardem.
Far behind, relegated to second place in the rankings, “Bob Marley: One Love,” a film about the life of the reggae legend, collected $7.4 million.
The Jamaican singer who achieved massive success and died suddenly in 1981 is played by British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir, known for his role as Malcolm X in One Night in Miami.
On the third step of the podium, the final episodes of the series “The Chosen,” about the life of Jesus Christ, raised $3.9 million.
Close behind, in fourth place, “Ordinary Angels” collected almost $3.9 million over the weekend. The film tells the true story of a hairdresser from Kentucky who unites her entire small town to help an abandoned widower care for his sick daughter.
Marvel superhero film “Madame Web,” at number five, brought in $3.2 million. For this fourth Sony film in the Spider-Man universe, actress Dakota Johnson plays an ambulance driver with clairvoyant abilities.
Here's the rest of the top 10:
6. “Migration” ($2.5 million)
7. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Towards Pillar Training” (2 million)
8th. “Wonka” (1.7 million)
9. “Argylle” (1.4 Million)
10. “The guard” (1.1 million)