Warner Bros.’ $160 million science-fiction epic, Dune, leaks on piracy sites days before its U.S. release. Nearly four decades after David Lynch adapted Frank Herbert’s “un-adaptable” novel, Dune, director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) and screenwriters Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth attempt to bring the first half of Paul Atreides’ story to the big screen. Thanks to its iconic source material, Dune is one of the most anticipated films of 2021. On top of that, its star-studded cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

After an array of COVID-19-related delays, Villeneuve’s long-awaited adaptation premieres in stateside theaters and on HBO Max (6:00 pm ET) tonight—a departure from previous hybrid releases which became available to stream on Fridays. Irrespective of this duel release strategy, Dune has already made $129 million at the international box office and is projected to make $30 million to $40 million in the U.S. and Canada throughout its opening weekend. Early reviews of the film have praised its cinematography, visuals, and utilization of IMAX. Villeneuve himself has recommended that audiences (safely) see Dune on the big screen, and not just because the film’s success determines whether he gets to adapt the rest of the book.

According to Variety, Dune leaked online days ahead of its official release date. At least three major illegal streaming sites are hosting HD quality streaming copies of Dune complete with English, Danish, Spanish and Arabic subtitles. As a result, thousands of users are now hosting and sharing copies on torrent sites. Other recent blockbusters such as Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Black Widow are also readily available on torrent sites but rarely do those copies come equipped with HD and a range of subtitles this early.

Dune’s HBO Max release already complicated its box office projections, and having a high-quality copy leak online only makes matters worse. It’s one thing when paid HBO Max subscribers watch Dune, it’s another to have everyone watching it for free with no way of tracking its popularity. Suffice to say, WB will be doing everything in its power to flush out the source and, in turn, eliminate copies online. Although, it’s likely too late for the latter. While WB representatives have declined to comment, insiders have said Dune’s piracy is within normal expectations despite the early leak.

It’s worth noting that every movie that’s become available on HBO Max throughout WB’s duel release strategy has resulted in the internet being flooded with copies—Dune may have leaked early, but privacy is an inevitability either way. Yes, there will be a large number of people who watch Dune illegally, but their viewing experiences will pale in comparison to one facilitated by IMAX. The consensus is that Dune is a beautiful film and deserves to be viewed accordingly. At the end of the day, movie lovers feel responsible for the success/future of Villeneuve’s Dune and will go see it in theaters regardless.

Source: Variety

Key Release Dates
See also  Dr Phil: 10 Most Heartbreaking Interviews
  • Dune (2021)Release date: Oct 22, 2021
Rob Zombie Shares BTS House of 1000 Corpses Pics With The Office’s Rainn Wilson

About The Author


Josh Plainse
(950 Articles Published)

Josh Plainse is a writer, movie, and television fanatic based out of Wisconsin. Josh works for Screen Rant covering the latest in entertainment while simultaneously pursuing the never-ending dream of becoming an established novelist, screenwriter, and/or decent human being. Josh would accredit characters such as Goku, Han Solo, Simba, and Maximus Decimus Meridius for instilling within him an affinity for storytelling. It is this incessant obsession which has propelled him to seek opportunities that inform, entertain, and inspire others.

Contact Josh directly: plainse(at)gmail(dot)com.

More From Josh Plainse