Dune: Part Two

What’s it about?

Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen, people of the desert planet, to wage war against the Harkonnen’s, who destroyed his family. But not all enemies are as they seem, and the journey to success might leave behind those he loves most.

The facts

• Director: Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049)
• English language and fictional languages
• Runtime: 166 minutes
• An adaptation of the 1965 epic science fiction novel of the same name by Frank Herbert.
• The sequel to Dune: Part One (2022)

Why did it get this rating?

This film was rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body.

Violence

The film contains sci-fi action violence. Characters are slashed with knives and shot with guns, but injury is not shown. People who are injured or killed in battle usually fall off-screen. A couple of scenes show dead bodies in piles being burned. The strongest scenes include:

• Minions have their heads bashed against surfaces, but injuries are not shown.
• A character kills another by sticking a knife into his neck. While there is no blood or injury shown, the camera focuses on the knife piercing the skin and being pushed in.
• On one occasion a character is threatened with knife and there is a bit of blood, but he isn’t killed.

Cruelty

The film includes scenes of low-level cruelty which could be upsetting for younger viewers or who do not like watching this type of content. This includes:

• A character gives the bodies of people he has killed to his friends/pets and it’s implied that they eat them. While the eating happens off-screen it is clear that these friends/pets take a lot of pleasure in the death and harm of people.
• There is a gladiator-like scene where opponents are drugged so that they will be easily killed in front of a big cheering crowd.
• Characters are forced to kiss the boots of their enemy, with the intention of humiliating them.
• A character tests the sharpness of his blade by slicing the necks of two other characters.

Sex

Sex is implied when two characters are shown from the shoulders up, embracing each other and panting. One is lying on top of the other. Nothing is shown in detail.

A character has the duty of getting pregnant to secure a bloodline, and must seduce a character she does not like.

Horror

While characters are human, some look quite creepy which could be scary for younger viewers. Some characters have sharp and black teeth, and another bathes in black liquid. There are giant worms that burrow in sand. Their mouths are lined with sharp teeth. If people get in their way they are eaten.

A character has a vision of the face of someone they love melting in nuclear blast. Her face wrinkles and shrivels. They wake up before any more detail is shown.

A character is forced to drink poison as part of a ritual. She writhes in pain and has blood crusted on her nose but survives the ordeal.

A fictional creature is drowned and then poison is extracted from it.

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Dune (2022) content guide
• What’s the difference between a PG and an M-rated movie? And can your kids watch the new Wonka film? Blog
• What is cross-rating? Blog