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Dune Gets Off To A Strong Start At The Chinese Box Office

The prognosis continues to look good for Denis Villenueve's Dune, despite the sci-fi epic releasing on HBO Max the same day it hits theaters. The literary adaptation will pass $150 million at the international box office by the end of the weekend, while it's on course for a domestic debut in the $30-35 million range.

The prognosis continues to look good for Denis Villenueve’s Dune, despite the sci-fi epic releasing on HBO Max the same day it hit theaters. The literary adaptation will pass $150 million at the international box office by the end of the weekend, while it’s on course for a domestic debut in the $30-35 million range.

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China has been more stringent than ever this year when it comes to giving the green light to major Hollywood productions, with Free Guy the last big budget American-backed blockbuster to meet the approval of the notoriously strict censorship board a the end of August, but Dune is nonetheless is tracking for a decent debut.

Dune and No Time to Die were both approved a while back, and Villenueve’s operatic intergalactic saga is set to fare admirably. As per Deadline, the the film brought in $6.5 million in its first day, sending it on course for a first frame somewhere in the $20 million range.

While that’s hardly a spectacular return, it should be good enough for second place behind local juggernaut The Battle at Lake Changjin, which has already earned in excess of $800 million since arriving three weeks ago. WarnerMedia CEO Ann Sarnoff teased that Dune: Part Two‘s official announcement could be imminent, so it’s encouraging to hear the movie is performing well on both domestic and international shores, as well as on HBO Max.