Hollywood is always on the lookout for popular trends, from cinematic universes to live-action remakes to more recent double features. However, it looks like Marvel Studios may avoid pursuing the latter with one of its superhero films. Hollywood insider John Campea reported that Marvel Studios is considering pushing back the release date Avengers: End of the WorldHe said: “The very non-binding discussions have taken place.” This news suggests that the film could premiere on the same day Dune: Part Threeand thus buried the “Dunesday” double feature in the sand.
It is still too early to say whether this news is true. The announcement will be made afterwards Jumanji 3 probably saved itself by postponing the release date December 11th to December 25tha week after Dunesday. Campea speculated that Marvel might be moving End of the world‘S Premiere too December 11th So it could take a week before the film is shown on the originally planned IMAX screens Jumanji 3 before they are taken Dune: Part Three.
It is unclear whether Avengers: End of the World or Dune: Part Three will repeat the wonderful success of the “Barbenheimer” double feature in which both appeared Barbie And Oppenheimer After their simultaneous premieres, they grossed around $2.1 billion worldwide. Dunesday has the makings of another Barbenheimer, as it features two big-budget blockbusters from acclaimed directors and star-studded casts.
As a long-time Marvel and Dune fan, I’m looking forward to seeing both films in theaters and sincerely hope to see them as a double feature. However, I wonder if separate releases for both films would make sense.
Would Marvel and Dune be saved from Dunesday?
Although Marvel and Dune are two blockbuster film series, this seems more likely Avengers: End of the World would beat Dune: Part Three at the box office upon joint release. About Screen Rant, a study by Greenlight Analytics found that audiences have shown greater awareness and interest in it Avengers: End of the World as in Dune: Part Three. In this study, 50% of respondents said they would like to see it End of the world in theaters on its opening weekend, while 38% said they would rather watch Dune: Part Three.
The greater interest in Avengers: End of the World is not surprising at all. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for its lighthearted comedic tone, even in darker films like Avengers: Infinity War And Avengers: Endgame. This tone has allowed it to appeal to audiences of all ages and make it the hugely successful franchise it is today. Given Dune: part Three’S Chances are there’s a more mature tone and how long the MCU has been in theaters Avengers: End of the World will attract more audience and make more money in theaters.
At the same time, Avengers: End of the World It aims to be the biggest superhero movie of all time by bringing together big names from comics and Hollywood. Not only will we see the return of Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU as iconic villain Doctor Doom, but also the return of beloved Avengers like Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth).
Over and beyond Avengers: End of the World will feature the X-Men and the Fantastic Four in a long-awaited crossover with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. You would think so Dune: Part Three would benefit even more if it didn’t have to compete with all the popular heroes and villains that Marvel will unleash in its next Avengers film.
However, in recent years, audiences have made it clear that superhero fatigue is real. Many of Marvel’s newer projects, including Eternal, Captain America: Brave New WorldAnd The miracleswere more divisive and less profitable than many films before them Avengers: Endgame. The fact that Marvel is bringing back Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans Avengers: End of the World suggests they’re banking on nostalgia to win back audiences.
While fewer and fewer people are seeing Marvel films in theaters, more original, director-directed stories like… sinner, WeaponsAnd Marty Supreme have emerged and achieved great success at the box office. The Dune trilogy is based on a series of books that began in the 1960s, similar to many Marvel films. Still, Villeneuve’s take on the story felt very different than most modern blockbusters, and the franchise continued to grow in popularity after the director’s first two films.
The first Dune film barely broke even at the box office in 2021, but Dune: Part TwoThe post-pandemic release date and more propulsive story skyrocketed the franchise, bringing in significantly more money and recognition in theaters. At this rate it seems so Dune 3 could cross the $1 billion mark at the box office, making it a major contender Avengers: End of the World.
The next Avengers film also needs to make a lot of money to recoup its huge production budget and marketing costs. Depending on its overall quality, despite its long list of stars and iconic characters, End of the world It might be harder to break even if it has to compete with him Dune: Part Three.
Dunesday could actually help both films succeed
If Dunesday happens this December, there’s a chance that both films will be big box office hits. Take a look at Barbenheimer Barbie made nearly $1.45 billion at the box office (according to Box Office Mojo), Oppenheimer still grossed nearly a billion dollars in theaters. Given Marvel and Dune’s already massive popularity, it’s likely that their films won’t have too much trouble breaking even come Dunesday.
However, it is worth noting that this is the case Barbie And Oppenheimer Because of the hype they generated as a double feature, they performed just as well as they did. Both films probably wouldn’t have made as much money from corporate marketing alone if people hadn’t been willing to join in on the Barbenheimer craze.
Avengers: End of the World And Dune: Part Three have garnered even more interest due to their simultaneous release dates. People are already creating Dunesday fan art in anticipation of the double feature, with Robert Downey Jr. re-sharing artwork from BossLogic on Instagram. One or both of these films could end up making more money by capitalizing on the current Dunesday phenomenon.
However, Dunesday may not achieve the hype and success he seeks in trying to become the next Barbenheimer. Hollywood tried to capture its magic with double features like “Glicked” (Gladiator II And Evil), which didn’t quite have the same charm or success. While “Glicked” made a lot of money in theaters, it didn’t do as well domestically compared to “Barbenheimer,” according to Fortune.
Think of it this way: We’ve heard from parents who try to sound cool to their kids by using slang like “hip.” But when the adults start saying it, the kids suddenly think it’s not cool. Barbenheimer was “hip” when the public created the meme and made it a random phenomenon. When Hollywood studios try so hard to imitate it and look cool to audiences, it can come across as awkward and disingenuous.
The fact that Marvel is considering pushing back the release date of Avenger: End of the world indicates that it is not about making Barbenheimer successful again. Both it and Dune: Part Three have already generated enough buzz on their own merits and are on track to become two of the biggest films of 2026. But if Marvel stays the course and keeps Dunesday coming, both films’ debuts could be even more memorable for fans.
