The box office battle between Christopher Nolan's 2023's historic Barbenheimer showdown. With Nolan still riding high off his Best Picture winner Oppenheimer and Villeneuve at the peak of his career, their 2026 release should be monumental.

People compare Nolan and Villeneuve a lot, based on their love of film, the epic scale of their movies, and mastery of the filmmaking craft, so this will be an interesting comparison to see in 2026. Dune: Part Three will actually adapt the second book of Frank Herbert's Dune series, Dune: Messiah, and will be a direct sequel to the Oscar-winning Dune: Part Two. The Odyssey and Dune: Part Three will almost certainly cause some 2026 awards season buzz, setting them up to compete at the box office and the Academy Awards.

2026 Features A Big Movie Battle Between Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey & Denis Villeneuve's Dune 3

Both Should Earn Awards Season Buzz & Be Top Performers At The Box Office

Matt Damon as Odysseus in The Odyssey

The Odyssey and Dune: Part Three will both feature performances by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, setting up massive years for them as well. Since Nolan and Villeneuve are considered two modern masters of auteur cinema, there will be inevitable comparisons between The Odyssey and Dune 3, even though they will not be released at the same time.

For Nolan, it doesn't get much bigger than adapting an incredibly influential work like The Odyssey.

The Odyssey is poised to be a true cinematic feat on the level of Nolan's recent and classic works, ranging from his iconic Dark Knight trilogy to his original films Inception and Interstellar, and his historical epics like Dunkirk and Oppenheimer. For Nolan, it doesn't get much bigger than adapting an incredibly influential work like The Odyssey.

As for Dune: Part Three, will should carry the momentum and critical acclaim of Dune: Part Two on its back, its release is just as big, if not bigger, than The Odyssey. Nolan himself called Dune: Part Two Villeneuve's own version of Empire Strikes Back, which adds even more pressure to ensure that Dune: Part Three won't end up like the less favorable Return of the Jedi. Dune has long been considered to be a difficult book to adapt for the screen, as evidenced by the late David Lynch's attempt in 1984. Villeneuve, however, defied the odds with his impressive rendition in 2021 before making one of the best sci-fi movies ever with Dune: Part Two last year.

The Odyssey Or Dune 3 - Which Movie Will Be Bigger At The Box Office?

Nolan Has the Edge In Box Office Appeal

An edited image of Paul from Dune: Part Two next to a sandworm
Custom image by Max Ruscinski

Both of the Dune movies have been critically acclaimed, receiving Rotten Tomatoes scores of 83% and 92%, respectively. That said, their box office performances haven't necessarily reflected their quality. 2021's Dune suffered from pandemic-stricken box offices but still pulled in more than $410 million. Dune: Part Two became the seventh highest-grossing film of 2024, earning just under $715 million worldwide. Although some people would call Dune: Part Two the best film of 2024, even better than Best Picture winner Anora, the box office and Academy Awards still seemed to undervalue it to a degree.

Matt Damon in the Odyssey viewed in profile in front of an ocean backdrop
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While Waiting For Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, Watch This 28-Year-Old Adaptation That's One Of The Best Versions I've Seen

This 28-year-old adaptation of The Odyssey is both my favorite and perfect for those waiting on Christopher Nolan's version of Homer's famous epic.

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The name Christopher Nolan has enormous box office appeal, similar to Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, and Martin Scorsese. That alone should fill seats when The Odyssey releases next summer, although it would have to be just as good, if not better, than Oppenheimer to achieve its $976 million box office total.

Nolan has directed five movies that grossed more than $700 million, whereas Villeneuve has only directed one.

The Dune franchise is still somewhat niche despite being one of the biggest blockbusters of 2024, while Nolan could direct a movie about just about anything and people will still go to see it. Additionally, Nolan has directed five movies that grossed more than $700 million, whereas Villeneuve has only directed one.

Why I'm More Excited For Dune: Part Three

Villeneuve Could Make The Best Sci-Fi Trilogy Of All Time

The Odyssey will undoubtedly be great, as with every Nolan film. The only real question is how great it will be. He's adapting a tale as old as time and one of the few Greek stories that actually have a happy ending. It's epic but predictable in its telling of a classic hero's journey. Dune: Part Three, however, features Paul Atreides, who was a hero in the first two films, in a new, darker light, painting him more as a complex anti-hero.

Dune: Messiah is even harder to adapt than the original Dune, which adds to the suspense of whether Dune 3 will be a masterpiece or a misfire.

Dune 3 should look and feel more modern, and Villeneuve is on the brink of creating a sci-fi trilogy masterpiece that could reasonably outdo the original Star Wars. Dune: Messiah is even harder to adapt than the original Dune, which adds to the suspense of whether Dune 3 will be a masterpiece or a misfire.