Anticipation for Dune: Part Three is already reaching blockbuster levels months before the film arrives in theaters. Several of the film’s prime 70mm IMAX screenings at San Francisco’s AMC Metreon 16 have sold out, highlighting the extraordinary demand for Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming conclusion to his Dune trilogy.
The film is scheduled to open in North American theaters on December 18, 2026, although select 70mm IMAX screenings begin on December 17. Official details from IMAX confirm that Dune: Part Three will receive a limited IMAX 70mm rollout, making tickets for the premium format especially difficult to secure.
San Francisco’s 70mm IMAX Screenings Are Selling Fast
AMC Metreon 16 is one of the limited theaters equipped to present Dune: Part Three in IMAX 70mm. SFGATE reports that the 7 p.m. screenings for the first three nights had already sold out, while other opening-weekend showtimes were left with only limited seating.
The Bay Area has another 70mm IMAX option at Regal Hacienda Crossings in Dublin, but demand there has also been strong. Regular IMAX screenings remain a more accessible alternative for moviegoers unable to secure seats for the rare film presentation.
The early sellouts reflect the growing popularity of premium large-format cinema, particularly for visually ambitious films designed to take advantage of IMAX technology.
Dune: Part Three marks Villeneuve’s final chapter in the trilogy and is based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah. The official Dune website confirms that Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides alongside Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson and Javier Bardem.
The first two Dune films established the franchise as a major theatrical success, and the upcoming installment is expected to deliver an even bigger cinematic experience. With 70mm IMAX tickets already becoming difficult to find, Dune: Part Three is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated theatrical releases of 2026.