The prophecy was false, Dune: Part Two won’t win every award at next year’s Oscars. While Denis Villeneuve’s hit sci-fi sequel never stood a chance at taking home Best Documentary (if The Bear is a comedy, then why can’t Dune be a doc?), the film has been preemptively locked out of one major category because of a weird technicality. As Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya) traversed the desert of Arrakis, the stunning visuals were all set to Hans Zimmer’s gorgeous score. The female vocals became an internet sensation, having been picked up as a TikTok trend, and screamed by Ayo Edebiri during an interview with Vanity Fair.
Despite being a beautiful piece of music, Hans Zimmer’s score cannot be submitted for Best Original Score at the 2025 Academy Awards because of a strange rule. Fans were hoping Zimmer would be able to secure a second award for his work on Dune (having won the statuette for the first movie’s score). However, because the score for Dune: Part Two features various elements and sounds from the original, it cannot be submitted for contention. The official ruling via the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences reads:
“In cases such as sequels and franchises from any media, the score must not use more than 20% of pre-existing themes and music borrowed from previous scores in the franchise.”
While the “film bros” who believe Dune: Part Two is the best thing since sliced bread (to be fair, it does come pretty close) will undoubtedly be grabbing their pitchforks, Zimmer himself doesn’t seem to mind. Speaking to Variety, the legendary composer said the purpose of the score is to serve the narrative of the movie, not to appease the Academy. Zimmer said:
“In the world of storytelling, our purpose is to serve the narrative and connect with the audience. With Dune: Part Two, we continue the journey we began in the first half of the book at the exact moment we left off. The score was always written to expand and evolve its themes and take them, like the book, to a natural ending, planned from the first word to the last note.”
Which Oscars Could Dune: Part Two Win in 2025?
Dune: Part Two is likely one of the biggest contenders at next year’s Academy Awards. The film still sits on many people’s lists as the best movie of 2024 so far. It is expected that Villeneuve’s sequel will contend for and potentially win the same categories as last year (minus the aforementioned Best Original Score). The big question, though, is: can Dune: Part Two win Best Picture?
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At the moment, the fight for Best Picture at the 2025 awards is hotly contested. The other blockbuster contender will likely be Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, which hits theaters in November. However, both projects also face stiff competition from lower budget movies like Sean Baker’s Anora, Nora Fingscheidt’s The Outrun, Steve McQueen’s Blitz, and Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist.
- Release Date
- March 1, 2024
- Runtime
- 166 Minutes