Steven Spielberg Says His Favorite Sci-Fi Movie Franchise of All Time Is Denis Villeneuve’s Dune

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Spielberg’s impact on science fiction is immense; his groundbreaking films redefined the genre. With another sci-fi project coming soon, he also demonstrates a genuine appreciation for the work of other filmmakers in the field.

Okay, so Steven Spielberg – the guy’s won three Oscars, remember? – is coming back to directing feature films this summer. It’s been four years since his last one. He was chatting with Empire magazine about his new alien thriller, and he dropped a fun little tidbit: he’s a huge fan of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies. And he didn’t just say he likes them recently, he said they’re among his all-time favorite sci-fi films, which is high praise coming from him!

Steven Spielberg Loves Dune

Denis Villeneuve launched the Dune film series in 2021. He decided to adapt the first book by Frank Herbert into two movies, and the first installment was a big hit. It won six Academy Awards and was praised by both critics and moviegoers. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave it an 83% rating (making it “Certified Fresh”), while audiences loved it even more, giving it a 90% “Verified Hot” rating.

Released in 2024, Dune: Part Two proved to be even more popular than the first film. Critics and audiences both loved it, giving it scores of 92% and 95% respectively, and it went on to win two Academy Awards. The two Dune movies have earned a total of $1.12 billion worldwide, and a third film, Dune: Part Three, is already planned.

Spielberg recently shared his enthusiasm for the Dune movies, calling them among his all-time favorites. He particularly enjoyed the second film.

He continued, “I think [Part Two] is the best movie Denis has ever made.”

The director of E.T. said he’s excited about the new movie, adding that he expects the filmmaker will likely share it with him soon because he’s a big fan.

Spielberg praised Villeneuve’s Dune, comparing it to how Guillermo del Toro honored Mary Shelley with his Frankenstein adaptation. He explained that both Villeneuve and del Toro beautifully paid tribute to the original authors – Denis honoring Frank Herbert, and Guillermo honoring Mary Shelley.

Steven Spielberg Wants to Make a Horror Movie

The director recently revealed a long-held ambition: to make a Western film. Over ten years ago, he famously said the genre was finished, but he hinted at the SXSW Festival that he’s been wanting to direct one for years. He’s working on a project he describes as “amazing,” promising a film full of horses and guns, but without relying on typical Western clichés or stereotypes.

In a recent interview, Spielberg revealed he’d like to direct a horror movie, in addition to potentially making a Western. He’s always been a fan of the genre and hopes to explore it someday. “I haven’t directed a horror film yet, and I’ve always wanted to, and someday I may.”

The filmmaker explained that many excellent horror movies already exist and fulfill the need for a good scare. Seeing a truly great film like Weapons doesn’t inspire them to create something even more frightening; instead, it’s so satisfying that it actually removes their desire to make a truly terrifying movie altogether.

Disclosure Day premieres in theaters on June 12. Dune: Part Three premieres in theaters on Dec. 18.

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2026-04-05 21:11