The 2026 box office is already having a much healthier year than the last one, and that’s made the looming December showdown between Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday feel even bigger.

According to Box Office Mojo’s year-to-date chart, the domestic box office has already climbed past $2 billion as of April 7, reaching about $2.01 billion.

That’s well ahead of where 2025 was at the same point, when the domestic total sat at roughly $1.65 billion.

There’s still a whole summer movie season to get through first, obviously, but December 18 is already shaping up to be one of the wildest release dates Hollywood has booked in years.

Warner Bros. lists Dune: Part Three for a December 18, 2026 theatrical release, while Disney has also confirmed Avengers: Doomsday for the exact same day.

And even though both films are still eight months away, Dune: Part Three has already started making noise in a very real way.

IMAX has put tickets on sale for its 70mm film screenings of the movie, and the official listing already shows multiple sold-out locations, including major venues in Los Angeles and New York.

ComicBook also reported that one resale ticket on eBay reached $999.99, which says a lot about how badly some fans want to lock in that format early.

The series is acclaimed for a reason. Villeneuve's masterful direction, pitch-perfect CGI, and outstanding performances by the cast have made these more than just niche sci-fi.

Collider's Therese Lacson backed this up, stating:

"Villeneuve has set up a lot and I left Dune: Part Two excited for more of this story, especially with surprising cameos that hint at a fantastic future.

I’ve criticized a lot of this movie, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a joy to watch on screen.

Villeneuve has achieved the impossible, and I’m sure he’s converted many people into becoming Dune fans.

But, I can't help but think that this is how I felt in 2021 when I first saw Part One. Will Dune: Part Two become a pivotal part of a movie franchise or a harbinger of worse things to come?"

Dune: Part Threeis due to release on December 18, 2026.