With Dune: Part Two currently dominating the box office, now is the perfect time to revisit the first film in the planned Dune trilogy. Or, for those new to the Duniverse, it’s a great time to jump in.
A visual and technical masterpiece, the Denis Villeneuve-directed film was showered with praise from both critics and audiences alike — a huge feat considering the 1984 adaptation of the same name was largely a creative flop. The 2021 film earned 10 Oscar nominations and took home six, including Best Visual Effects, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Cinematography.
What is Dune about?
Dune is based on a 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name — and the massive universe it generated. The new adaptation sticks closely to the plot of the original science-fiction masterpiece. Fair warning: It’s a complex plot.
After relocating from ocean planet Caladan to desert planet Arrakis, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is thrust into the center of a battle for control of the most precious substance in the universe: Melange. The spice, which can extend human life, enhance abilities, and unlock the ability to see into the future for some, can only be found on the treacherous Arrakis. The film follows his journey in navigating the hostile environment — which never sees rain and is inhabited by massive, deathly sandworms — and seeking to bring peace to the planet after his family comes under attack.
If this all sounds weird and confusing, you’re not alone. We even wrote up a detailed explainer for newbies that need a little help figuring out what Dune is all about.
Read our full review of Dune: Part One.
Here’s a glimpse at the first Dune installment in the official trailer:
Is Dune streaming?
Denis Villeneuve’s first installment of the sci-fi franchise hit Max (then called HBO Max) at the same time it debuted in theaters back in October 2021. The film is still streaming on Max in 2024. As of March 1, Dune also started streaming on Hulu — the same day Dune: Part Two hit theaters. Unfortunately for Netflix subscribers, Dune: Part One also left that app the day prior.
Is there a Max free trial?
At the time of writing, Prime Video is offering a free 7-day Max trial if you add it as a channel through your Prime Video account. However, it’s worth noting that this free trial disappeared back in January and just reappeared. In other words, it could most certainly disappear again. So, take advantage of the trial period while it’s still around! There’s currently no free trial through Max itself or as an add-on through Hulu.
Is there a Hulu free trial?
If you’re brand new to Hulu or you’re returning after canceling previously, you can score a free 30-day trial and easily watch Dune (and plenty of other great series and films) without getting charged. Just be sure to cancel before the 30-day trial period ends to avoid seeing a charge on your bank statement.
Best streaming deals to watch Dune
If you want to brush up on Dune: Part One before heading to the theaters, or watch it for the very first time, you’ll need either a Max or Hulu subscription. If it helps with your decision, when Dune: Part Two concludes its theatrical run, it will be headed to Max for its streaming debut. As HBO’s premium streaming service, Max offers three subscription tiers starting at $9.99 per month, as well as annual subscription options. Hulu offers two subscription tiers starting at $7.99 per month, as well as an annual subscription and bundle options.
We’ve broken down the best Max and Hulu streaming deals below, so you can decide which plan is best for your streaming needs.
Max subscription deals
Best Max streaming deal for most people: Save 17% on Max with ads annual subscription
The cheapest tier on Max costs $9.99 per month and includes ad breaks. If you only want to watch Dune: Part One, you can easily sign up for a month of Max with ads and cancel before you’re charged for another month. If you’re in it for the long run and want to stick around for Dune: Part Two‘s arrival on Max as well, we recommend the yearly subscription instead. An annual plan with ads will run you $99.99 per year, which breaks down to only $8.33 per month instead of $9.99. That’s 17% (or $1.66) per month in savings.
Best Max deal with no ads: Save 22% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription
If you’re willing to hisse a bit more for an ad-free experience, you have the Max Ad-Free and Max Ultimate tiers to choose from. The Ad-Free tier costs $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year, which saves you 22% and is probably the best value Max özgü to offer. If you’re looking to splurge and watch Dune: Part One in the best possible format, the Max Ultimate subscription is your best bet. It also offers an ad-free viewing experience, plus 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. It costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year (save 17%).
Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan
Cricket Wireless customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan can score Max with ads for free as long as their account remains in good standing. Just head over to the Max app or navigate to Max on a browser, choose Cricket as your provider, and use your Cricket credentials to log in. Then you’ll be able to watch Dune: Part One (and Dune: Part Two, once it comes to streaming) for no extra cost. Cricket Wireless customers on different plans can change or upgrade in order to secure the deal. Check the terms and conditions on Cricket’s website to learn more.
Hulu subscription deals
Best Hulu deal for most people: Hulu (with ads) annual subscription
If you don’t qualify for Hulu’s 30-day free trial or you want to keep your subscription rolling after your trial ends, you can save money by opting for an annual subscription instead of a monthly plan. While Hulu with ads usually costs $7.99 per month, that fee drops to just $6.67 per month when you hisse up front. At $79.99 per year, you end up saving about 16%. If you’re just looking to watch Dune and move on with your life, a monthly plan will do. But if you plan on sticking around long term, a yearly plan is the best bang for your buck.
Best for T-Mobile customers: Hulu (with ads) for free
At the end of January, T-Mobile began offering Hulu with ads for free to those on the Go5G Next plan. If this includes you, just head over to the T-Mobile website and choose “redeem now” on the offer page. Then, enter your T-Mobile number and account details to sign up for Hulu and you’re good to go. After the initial 12-month promotional period, action will be required on your part to keep your Hulu subscription going.
Mashable Deals
Best for students: Hulu Student
Students looking to dive into the world of Arrakis can score a Hulu deal two different ways. The more straightforward option is to sign up for a Hulu Student account. While there’s no free trial, it’ll only cost you $1.99 per month. That’s 75% off the usual Hulu monthly cost. The only requirement is that you can prove you’re actually a student via SheerID.
Another option is to sign up for Spotify Premium for Students, which gives students free access to Hulu with ads with their Spotify Premium account. There’s a one-month free trial to kontrol things out, then it’ll cost you just $5.99 per month for both services. Like the first option, you’ll need to prove your student status via SheerID.
Best bundle deal: Hulu and Disney+ (with ads)
If you’re an existing Disney+ subscriber or simply just looking to get the most bang for your buck in the streaming era, it’s worth checking out the Disney+ bundle. (Full disclosure: this is not the best option if you’re simply looking to watch Dune and bounce.) With the Disney Duo bundle, you can get Hulu with ads and Disney+ with ads for only $9.99 per month — that’s just $2 more per month than paying for Hulu on its own (37% in savings). Sure, you’ll have to deal with some ads while streaming, but it’s still an excellent streaming deal.
Other ways to watch Dune: Part One
Thanks to video-on-demand services like Prime Video and Apple TV+, you can also rent or purchase the digital version of Dune: Part One and avoid signing up for another streaming service. Renting is the cheapest option, but you’ll only get 30 days of access and just 48 hours to finish watching once you begin. If you’d rather be on your own timeline and watch Dune: Part One as often as you’d like, we recommend purchasing it for your digital library instead.
You can rent or purchase Dune on demand at the following digital retailers:
Prime Video — $3.99 to rent, $7.99 to purchase
Apple TV — $3.99 to rent, $7.99 to purchase
Vudu — $3.99 to rent, $7.99 to purchase
Google Play — $3.99 to rent, $14.99 to purchase
