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Dune (1984 film)

Dune
Theatrical release poster by Tom Jung
Directed byDavid Lynch
Screenplay byDavid Lynch
Based onDune
by Frank Herbert
Produced byRaffaella De Laurentiis
Starring
CinematographyFreddie Francis
Edited byAntony Gibbs
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • December 3, 1984 (1984-12-03) (Eisenhower Theater)
  • December 14, 1984 (1984-12-14) (United States)
Running time
137 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40–42 million[2][3]
Box office$30.9 million (US/Canada)[2]
$37.9 million (worldwide rentals)[3]

Dune is a 1984 American epic space opera film written and directed by David Lynch, and based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. It was filmed at the Churubusco Studios in Mexico City. The soundtrack was composed by the rock band Toto, with a contribution from Brian Eno. Its large ensemble cast includes Kyle MacLachlan (in his film debut), Patrick Stewart, Brad Dourif, Dean Stockwell, Virginia Madsen, José Ferrer, Sean Young, Sting, Linda Hunt, and Max von Sydow.

The setting is the distant future, chronicling the conflict between rival noble families as they battle for control of the extremely harsh desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. The planet is the only source of the drug melange (spice), which allows prescience and is vital to space travel, making it the most essential and valuable commodity in the universe. Paul Atreides is the scion and heir of a powerful noble family, whose appointment to the control of Arrakis brings them into conflict with its former overlords, House Harkonnen. Paul is also possibly the Kwisatz Haderach, a messianic figure expected by the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.

After the novel's initial success, attempts to adapt Dune as a film began in 1971. A lengthy process of development followed throughout the 1970s, during which Arthur P. Jacobs, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Ridley Scott unsuccessfully tried to bring their visions to the screen. In 1981, executive producer Dino De Laurentiis hired Lynch as director.

The film underperformed at the box office, grossing $30.9 million against a $40–42 million budget. At least four versions have been released worldwide. Lynch largely disowned the finished film and had his name removed or changed to pseudonyms in the credits on certain versions. The film has developed a cult following,[4][5] but opinion varies between fans of the novel and fans of Lynch's films.[6]


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  1. ^ "Dune (PG) (Cut)". British Board of Film Classification. November 20, 1984. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Dune (1984)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Knoedelseder, William K. Jr. (August 30, 1987). "De Laurentiis: Producer's Picture Darkens". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Schilling, Dave (October 24, 2021). "David Lynch's Dune bombed, but was actually foundational". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Snyder was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (October 21, 2021). "Dune Movie Explained: What to Know About the Classic Sci-Fi Novel". IGN. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2022.

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