15 Movies To Watch if You Love 'Dune'
Updated
Diego Pineda has been a devout storyteller his whole life. He has self-published a fantasy novel and a book of short stories, and is actively working on publishing his second novel.
A lifelong fan of watching movies and talking about them endlessly, he writes reviews and analyses on his Instagram page dedicated to cinema, and occasionally on his blog. His favorite filmmakers are Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin. He loves modern Mexican cinema and thinks it's tragically underappreciated.
Other interests of Diego's include reading, gaming, roller coasters, writing reviews on his Letterboxd account (username: DPP_reviews), and going down rabbit holes of whatever topic he's interested in at any given point.
Sign in to your Collider account
One of the most popular and influential sci-fi novels of all time, Frank Herbert's massively imaginative Dune is the tale of Paul Atreides, who arrives at a dangerous alien planet after his father, Duke Leto, accepts stewardship of it. It's the galaxy's source of melange, its most precious resource. Chaos ensues after a betrayal that has powerful forces clash over control of the planet.
For a long time, it was believed to be impossible to adapt the book into a good film. It wasn't until 2021 and 2024 that Denis Villeneuve proved with his Dune and Dune: Part Two that it was very much possible to turn Paul's story into one of modern cinema's most exhilarating epics, and two of the best sci-fi movies of the 2020s. Those craving more adventures in the same vein as Dune — whether ones that influenced it, ones that were influenced by it, or ones that are just remarkably similar in some way — thankfully have plenty of exciting films from throughout history to check out.
15 'The Fifth Element' (1997)
French auteur Luc Besson was one of the biggest voices of the Cinéma du look film movement of the '80s and '90s, which was all about slick visual aesthetics and prioritizing spectacle over narrative depth. Considered by some to be a fittingly bombastic swan song to the movement, Besson's English-language French film The Fifth Element has aged wonderfully as one of the decade's most iconic sci-fi spectacles.
It's one of the best sci-fi adventure movies of all time, which should appeal to Dune fans. Like it, it's a space opera on a massive scale, told through an operatic tone that elevates its quality to the stratosphere. Inspired by the work of the legendary comic artist Moebius, The Fifth Element's visuals should appeal to anybody who loves the signature look of the many versions of Herbert's magnum opus.
14 'Tremors' (1990)
The way in which Villeneuve envisioned Dune's sandworms was so enrapturing that it could very reasonably be the case that someone's favorite part of the whole movie was its sandworm scenes; and for those people, Tremors should prove to be an absolute blast. There's no need for depth here, since what we're talking about is a pure creature feature where giant subterranean flesh-eating worms terrorize a Nevada desert town.
Tremors doesn't have any of the depth or artistry that Villeneuve's Dune has to offer, but who goes into a movie of this sort expecting such a thing? Anyone watching Tremors is in it for the worm-centric spectacle, and in that department, this cult classic delivers all the goods with self-aware B-picture charm to spare. It may not be particularly complex, but its fun factor is impossible to resist.
13 'Stargate' (1994)
Before it was a major multimedia franchise beloved by many, Stargate was one of the best sci-fi movies of the '90s, directed by disaster flick master Roland Emmerich. It wasn't a pioneer in the realm of portal sci-fi, but it sure did redefine and re-popularize the genre in all sorts of fascinating ways. Over three decades after its release, it's still just as fun as it was back when it first came out.
Of course, Stargate's sensibilities as a piece of portal sci-fi are considerably different from those of Dune, a space opera that has practically nothing to do with portals; but their genre charm is remarkably similar. Both take place in beautifully realized desert planet settings, both are about fighting oppressive regimes, and both blend mythic Hero's Journey tropes with pure, delightful science fiction.
12 'Mad Max 2' (1981)
People who love desert sci-fi yet have somehow still not dived into George Miller's Mad Max franchise are missing out. Back in 1979, the shoestring-budget original starring Mel Gibson completely revolutionized both Australian cinema as a whole and low-budget action filmmaking more specifically. Just two years later, Miller came back with nearly 15 times the budget, which resulted in one of the greatest sequels in the history of sci-fi action cinema: Mad Max 2, also known as The Road Warrior.
Whereas the original Mad Max feels quite dated in many respects, The Road Warrior is nothing short of timeless, one of the best post-apocalyptic thrillers of all time. A brutal desert setting that makes survival difficult, tribal warfare over scarce resources, and a quasi-messianic protagonist. The Dune parallels are all clearly there, and they should be reason enough to make any fan of Herbert's work decide to check it out if they still haven't.
11 'Stalker' (1979)
One of the best foreign arthouse movies of all time, as well as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made, Stalker is by far one of the best works by master Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. It's set in a small country where there's a mysterious area called the Zone, wherein lies a space called the Room, which is said to grant visitors' innermost wish. A guide, known as a stalker, guides a writer and a professor through this dangerous area to reach the mythical Room.
Like Dune, Stalker explores themes of faith and profound philosophical topics, even if it does so through a drastically different approach. It's a must-see for anyone who enjoys movies, really, but particularly so for those who could consider themselves Dune fans. Like Villeneuve's latest epics, Stalker treats its complex narrative with care, delivering stunning visuals and plenty of memorable set pieces.
10 'Dune' (1984)
If Dune was believed to be unadaptable for as long as it did, that was largely (if not mainly) due to the monumental failure that was David Lynch's adaptation. The director, famous for what he's brought to cinematic surrealism, condensed Herbert's seminal novel into one nearly 2-and-a-half-hour film. The result is a bizarre, poorly constructed, not-particularly-close-to-the-source-material misfire.
That being said, Lynch's Dune has, in all fairness, aged okay. Though lacking the head-scratching style that's made Lynch an icon, it's still an acceptable entry in his filmography, with a solid amount of interesting things to offer to both fans and cinephiles. If anything, fans of the modern duology should check out the original to see how it differs from the way Villeneuve's imagination complemented Herbert's. Spoiler alert: It differs an awful lot. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to each viewer to interpret.
9 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (2001)
Even well before the turn of the century, The Lord of the Rings needed no introduction. It was Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary trilogy, though, that really made the franchise blow up in mainstream popularity far more than ever before. The first installment is The Fellowship of the Ring, which first brings together the titular team at the beginning of their journey to Mount Doom, where they plan to destroy an evil tyrant's secret weapon.
That synopsis may make Fellowship sound like just your typical Hero's Journey fare, but that's very far from the truth. It's actually one of the most flawless movies of the 2000s, serving as a perfect introduction to the enchanting world of Middle-earth and the fascinating characters who inhabit it. Villeneuve has been very vocal about how much Lord of the Rings inspired his take on Arrakis and Paul's story, and the influences are quite visible in Fellowship. It's a massive, epic, emotionally riveting first step into a vast world, just like 2021's Dune was.
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you'd actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.
04
How do you deal with authority you don't trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn't just tactical — it's physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they're actually made of.
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You'd Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You're a systems thinker who can't help but notice the seams in things.
- You're drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
- You'd find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines' worst nightmare.
- You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
- The Matrix built an airtight prison. You'd be the one probing the walls for the door.
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn't reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That's you.
- You don't need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
- You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you're good at all three.
- You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
- In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Blade Runner
You'd survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
- You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
- In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
- You're not a hero. But you're not lost, either.
- In Blade Runner's world, that distinction is everything.
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
- Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they're survival tools.
- You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
- Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You'd learn its logic and earn its respect.
- In time, you wouldn't just survive Arrakis — you'd begin to reshape it.
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn't have it any other way.
- You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
- You'd gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire's grip can be broken.
- You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn't something you're capable of.
- In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
8 '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968)
It goes without saying, but Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is perhaps the most influential sci-fi movie ever made. That's hardly shocking since Kubrick is considered by many the single greatest American filmmaker who ever lived. His philosophical space epic follows a spacecraft manned by two humans and a supercomputer, who are sent to Jupiter to investigate the origins of a mysterious artifact that's landed on the Moon.
It's hardly a stretch to say that 2001 has had a very visible influence on pretty much every space adventure movie that's been made throughout the 21st century — and that, of course, includes Villeneuve's Dune movies. With its ahead-of-their-time visual effects and incredible use of color, fascinating themes, gripping story, iconic music, and legendary ending, this '60s masterpiece is one that everyone should check out before they die.
7 'Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope' (1977)
Like Tolkien's creation, George Lucas's is such a household title at this point that one would be hard-pressed to find anyone who's never heard of it. It's, of course, Star Wars, which was spawned by the 1977 classic now known as Episode IV — A New Hope. In it, young farmer Luke Skywalker is pulled out of his quiet life to save the galaxy from the Galactic Empire's planet-destroying weapon.
The Hero's Journey, being perhaps the biggest story archetype in human history, has been used as a template for multiple sci-fi and fantasy tales throughout the years. That includes both Dune and A New Hope, the latter of which is literally directly about the monomyth. Proving that sticking to a tried-and-true structural skeleton isn't antonymous with originality, both Villeneuve and Lucas proved that creativity beats all. With its incredible visuals, phenomenal screenplay, and one of the best movie scores of all time, A New Hope is a cinematic icon for a reason.
6 'The Matrix' (1999)
The Wachowskis' The Matrix follows Neo, a computer hacker who's led into an underground world by a beautiful stranger. There, he chooses to discover the shocking truth: that the life he knows is an elaborate deception fabricated by an evil cyber-intelligence. Packed with adrenaline-pumping action set pieces and armed with one of the most deceptively profound sci-fi scripts of the 20th century, it's both an incredibly fun movie and a deeply thought-provoking one.
The Matrix is another one of the most influential sci-fi films ever, with some of the most revolutionary visual effects since the invention of CGI. It's perfect for those who like sci-fi tales with a little philosophical meat on their bones; sci-fi that can entrance them with show-stopping action, but also get them thinking with meaningful storytelling. The Dune parallels thus reveal themselves.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.