The U.K.’s largest screen, the BFI IMAX, has sold 33,000 advance tickets for Dune: Part Three in just 24 hours, breaking the first-day presale record set by The Odyssey.
Denis Villeneuve‘s hotly anticipated sci-fi sequel raked in £880,000 ($1.2m) in presales, compared to the £750,000 ($1m) Christopher Nolan’s three-hour epic recently scored. In third place is 2024’s Dune: Part Two, which comes in at less than half of The Odyssey‘s tally (£366k). Behind that is Oppenheimer (£254k) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (£116k).
Wednesday’s figures follow three opening weekend screenings that had previously sold out in under an hour last April and two previews that also sold out earlier this month. The British Film Institute (BFI) is presenting Villeneuve’s final Dune outing on a “pristine” IMAX 70mm print, “continuing the organization’s commitment to preserving and celebrating celluloid, alongside the filmmakers who champion the format.”
Villeneuve’s space saga reaches its conclusion with Dune: Part Three. Set nearly two decades after the previous installment, Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) faces the consequences of his reign as old allies return, terrifying new threats emerge and betrayal lurks in every shadow.
Haunted by visions of Imperial collapse and the reappearance of Chani (Zendaya), Paul is drawn into a sweeping conspiracy, with his long-lost love at the heart of its unfolding mystery. When enemies close in, Paul must confront the true cost of power and the fate of those he loves the most. Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh, Jason Momoa, Anya Taylor-Joy, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin all co-star.
The BFI IMAX had its best-ever opening weekend at the box office upon The Odyssey‘s release earlier this year. The screen was the number one IMAX venue in both the U.K. and international markets from July 17-19, with the three-day gross coming in at £219,867 ($296,147) from a single screen, the biggest opening weekend box office result of any IMAX venue in the U.K. and abroad.
Villeneuve might be feeling pretty confident he can top that when Dune: Part Three hits theaters, including the BFI IMAX, on Dec. 18.
Original Article on Hollywood Reporter