“Dune: Part Three” sold 33,000 advance tickets in 24 hours at London’s BFI IMAX, setting a new first-day presale record for the venue with more than £880,000 in sales. The total surpasses the £750,000 first-day mark set earlier this year by Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” roughly two months before Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy finale opens in December.
Key Takeaways
- First-day presales for “Dune: Part Three” at BFI IMAX topped £880,000, ahead of “The Odyssey” at £750,000.
- The total is more than double the £366,000 first-day presale for “Dune: Part Two” at the same venue in 2024.
- The BFI will screen the film on an IMAX 70mm print, with previews beginning Tuesday, December 15.
- Three opening-weekend screenings at the venue sold out in under an hour in April 2026, before full presales opened.
- “Dune” (2021) and “Dune: Part Two” return to BFI IMAX from Friday, December 11, ahead of the new film.
Dune Part Three Sets A New First-Day Mark At BFI IMAX
BFI IMAX, the UK’s largest screen, reported 33,000 advance tickets sold for “Dune: Part Three” within the first 24 hours of presales. The sales generated more than £880,000, the highest first-day advance total in the venue’s records.
The new figure puts “Dune: Part Three” at the top of the BFI IMAX’s first-day presale rankings. “The Odyssey” now sits second at £750,000, followed by “Dune: Part Two” at £366,000, “Oppenheimer” at £254,000, and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” at £116,000. Two of the five films on that list belong to Villeneuve’s “Dune” series, and the new entry more than doubles its predecessor’s opening-day presale.
The record builds on demand that showed up months earlier. Three opening-weekend screenings sold out in under an hour in April 2026, and two preview screenings sold out earlier this month.
IMAX 70mm Drives Demand For Large-Format Screenings
Format is a large part of the story. The BFI is presenting “Dune: Part Three” on what it calls a “pristine” IMAX 70mm print, describing the choice as part of its commitment to preserving celluloid and supporting the filmmakers who champion the format.
Few screens worldwide can project IMAX 70mm, and the format has become a draw in its own right. “The Odyssey” showed how strong that demand can be, with its own IMAX 70mm screenings at the venue selling out months in advance. “Dune: Part Three” now appears to be following the same pattern, with the most committed large-format audience buying early.
The BFI is also building a run-up to the release. “Dune” (2021) and “Dune: Part Two” (2024) return to BFI IMAX from Friday, December 11, with “Part Two” shown on an IMAX 70mm print. Previews of “Dune: Part Three” in IMAX 70mm begin Tuesday, December 15.
What The Presale Record Does And Does Not Show
The figure is significant, but it measures one thing. These are single-venue advance sales, not worldwide IMAX totals or completed box office grosses. A first-day presale record at one London screen reflects demand from the audience most eager for the large-format experience, rather than a forecast of the film’s overall performance.
Still, the comparison with “Dune: Part Two” is useful. The previous film went on to become a major box office success, and “Part Three” has now more than doubled its first-day presale at the same venue. For a franchise built around the big-screen experience, early sales at one of the world’s leading IMAX 70mm screens are an early read on interest.
Denis Villeneuve’s Trilogy Reaches Its Conclusion
“Dune: Part Three” completes Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s saga. Set nearly two decades after the events of “Dune: Part Two,” the film follows Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, as he faces the consequences of his reign while old allies return and new threats emerge.
Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh also play key roles. The film opens in December 2026.
FAQs
When Does Dune Part Three Come Out?
“Dune: Part Three” opens in December 2026. Preview screenings at London’s BFI IMAX begin Tuesday, December 15.
How Many Tickets Did Dune Part Three Sell At BFI IMAX?
The film sold 33,000 advance tickets at BFI IMAX in its first 24 hours of presales, generating more than £880,000 and setting a new first-day record for the venue.
What Record Did Dune Part Three Break?
It broke the BFI IMAX first-day presale record previously held by “The Odyssey,” which earned £750,000 in its first 24 hours.
Who Stars In Dune Part Three?
Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides, with Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh in key roles.
