What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDune
Denis Villeneuve · Film · 2021
If you loved Dune, start with Dune (Frank Herbert, 1965) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Dune across media.
What hooked you in Dune was the way it anchors sweeping, galaxy-altering political shifts in the deeply personal struggles of individuals.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Dune: Part Two
Film · 2024
Books on the same thread
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir · Book · 2021
Explores: Amnesia, Planetary Survival, Xenobiology.
Much like the solitary burden Paul carries in Dune, this story focuses on a lone individual whose survival and ingenuity determine the fate of humanity against overwhelming interstellar odds.
Ready Player One: A Novel
Ernest Cline · Book · 2017
Explores: Nostalgia, Virtual Reality, Escapism.
If you were drawn to the high-stakes competition and world-building of Dune, you will appreciate how this narrative pits a single underdog against a vast, controlling societal framework.
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card · Book · 2013
Explores: Child Soldiers, Alien Invasion, Moral Ambiguity.
The burden of destiny and the moral weight of leadership explored in Dune are mirrored here, as a young protagonist is thrust into a desperate, galaxy-wide military conflict.
Binti
Nnedi Okorafor · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with Dune: Space Opera.
This story captures the intimate coming-of-age journey amidst cosmic expansion found in Dune, focusing on how a singular cultural identity navigates the complex dangers of a vast, alien space.
Series on the same thread
The Sandman
Neil Gaiman · Series · 2022
Explores: Cosmic Horror, Existentialism, Redemption.
Just as Dune examines the weight of power and destiny, this journey follows a cosmic figure traversing realms to reclaim his authority and restore balance to a fractured reality.
Arcane
Christian Linke · Series · 2021
Explores: Sisterhood, Dystopian Society, Technological Advancement vs. Social Decay.
The political volatility and clashing convictions that define the conflict in Dune are perfectly reflected in this story of two sisters caught on opposing sides of societal decay.
Game of Thrones
David Benioff · Series · 2011
Explores: Power Struggles, Moral Ambiguity, War and Politics.
The intricate power struggles and moral ambiguity that make Dune compelling are at the heart of this epic, where noble houses fight for dominance while ancient threats loom.
Andor
Tony Gilroy · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Dune: Space Opera.
This narrative mirrors the espionage and rebellion found in Dune, focusing on how a reluctant hero navigates a dangerous, oppressive empire to shape the future of a movement.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Existentialism, Individual Responsibility, Cultural Critique.
If you appreciated the philosophical depth of Dune, this podcast provides the same rigorous examination of individual responsibility and the cultural structures that define our human experience.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
The cycles of power and societal collapse that serve as the backdrop for Dune are unpacked in this historical analysis, revealing the patterns behind every great human revolution.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Dune movies in?
You should begin with the 2021 film Dune, directed by Denis Villeneuve. After completing the first installment, you should follow up with the 2024 sequel, Dune: Part Two, to continue the story of Paul Atreides and his journey on the dangerous planet Arrakis.
Is Dune based on a book?
Yes, the 2021 film Dune is based on the original science fiction novel titled Dune, which was published in 1965. The source material provides the foundational story for the cinematic adaptations directed by Denis Villeneuve regarding the conflict over the universe's most precious resource.
Does Dune: Part Two continue the story from the first movie?
Yes, Dune: Part Two is the direct cinematic continuation of the 2021 film Dune. It follows Paul Atreides as he navigates the malevolent forces and conflict on the planet Arrakis, building upon the events and destiny established in the first movie.
Should I read the book Dune before watching the movies?
Reading the 1965 book Dune before watching the films is a matter of personal preference. Both the 2021 movie Dune and the 2024 film Dune: Part Two are adaptations of this source material, covering the journey of Paul Atreides and the struggle for the planet's precious resource.