Dune: Part 2 definitely wraps up on an open-ended note, just as the novel does. As the credits roll, we’ve just seen the opening salvo in a holy war that promises to reshape the galaxy.

As “Dune 2” attempts to step into this arena, it carries the hopes of an entire genre looking to claim a rightful place in the spotlight. The 2025 Oscars are a year from now, though still undated.

Prior to the arrival of “Dune 2,” domestic box office revenue was down 20% compared to 2023 and 40% compared to the pre-pandemic numbers exhibitors have been chasing since 2019.

Dune: Part 2 completes what is a perfect page-to-screen translation specifically because it’s different. Inevitably, adaptations as weighty as this will get held to the scrutiny of decades of ...