This past weekend, Dune: Part Two, a highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi series, released in theaters to excited audiences. If you haven’t had a chance to see this epic film, or want to experience it again, here’s a quick guide to the best places to see it in the DC area.
In an interview, Director Denis Villeneuve said he recommends seeing the film in theaters with either IMAX or Dolby Atmos technology, as its immersive sound design was constructed with these systems in mind. Dolby Atmos theaters are specifically outfitted to bring audiences the best auditory experience possible, while IMAX theaters are known for having larger screens and higher-quality visuals.
Most of the area’s IMAX and Dolby theaters are owned by AMC. And if you’re interested in owning the fabled Dune Popcorn Bucket with a movie-accurate but questionably functional sandworm head, you’ll need to go to an AMC theater as well—and hope that they’re not already sold out. In Virginia, AMC locations include: Tysons (7850e Tysons Corner Ctr.), the Hoffman Center (206 Hoffman St., Alexandria), and Potomac Mills (2700 Potomac Mills Cir., Woodbridge); each offer both IMAX and Dolby screenings of Dune: Part Two. In Maryland, you can find IMAX screenings at AMC’s theaters in Largo (800 Shoppers Way) and Gaithersburg (9811 Washingtonian Ctr.). In DC, the Georgetown AMC (3111 K St., NW) has both Dolby Atmos and IMAX screenings of the film—but be warned, the IMAX screen at this location is significantly smaller than usual, as a local Dune fan pointed out on X.
For DC area dune fans looking to experience the movie in IMAX, here’s a comparison chart I mocked up.
Can’t wait to see it again at Tysons where the full IMAX ratio gets to play. pic.twitter.com/SQWtlDJJs9
— Sean ‘Usul’ Simon (@theseansimon) February 26, 2024
The beloved IMAX theater in the Air and Space museum is currently closed for renovation, but you can still head over to their Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly (14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy.), which hosts the largest IMAX screen in the region. The Regal Majestic in Silver Spring (900 Ellsworth Dr.) is also showcasing Dune’s desert planet of Arrakis on a large IMAX screen.
The Alamo Drafthouse offers Dolby sound technology and large screens in their specialty “Big Show” theaters at both of their DC-area locations (630 Rhode Island Ave., NE; 1660 Crystal Dr., Arlington). Although they don’t host any full IMAX screens, the dinner-theater chain is offering a Dune-themed menu for all screenings of the film, including “Spice” popcorn with berbere spices and “Ornithopter” chicken wings coated in peri-peri sauce.
Dune: Part Two was fully produced on digital cameras, but the film was also released in a 70mm film format, which you can see at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring). Many movie buffs stand by 70mm screenings for their ability to show refined details and richer colors, so seeing the new film in this rare form could be a special experience.
For the brave soul that wants to get in on the action, there’s 4DX screenings of the film at Regal Gallery Place (701 7th St., NW), which features wind, smoke, and water effects, as well as vibrating, moving chairs that reflect the intense action scenes of the film. Just try not to spill your popcorn when a fleet of huge sandworms takes the screen.
