Warner Bros.' "Dune: Part Three" and Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Doomsday" are both set to hit North American theaters on December 18, 2026. With the two highly anticipated blockbusters going head-to-head, fans are already debating which movie they should see first. Florence Pugh, who appears in both films, recently shared her recommended viewing order in an interview with ELLE.
The box office showdown has been dubbed "Dunesday," a mashup of "Dune" and "Doomsday." Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet also used the nickname while appearing at an event in January 2026, helping it gain traction among moviegoers.
Pugh has a unique stake in the matchup. She plays Princess Irulan in the "Dune" franchise and will reprise her role as Yelena Belova, aka Black Widow, in "Avengers: Doomsday." Some fans have even jokingly renamed the occasion "Pughsday," since audiences will get to see Pugh regardless of which film they choose. That has made her take on the release-date battle particularly fitting.
Asked which movie audiences should watch first, Pugh laughed and said, "Oh God, a stressful day. Do 'Dune' first. Go have some lunch, process that, chat about it, dissect it, talk about it, maybe have the night off to talk about it. Following day, do 'Avengers,' or in the evening do 'Avengers.'" While she did not insist that fans split the two movies across separate days, Pugh encouraged audiences to see both and said she was eager to hear their reactions.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, "Dune: Part Three" continues Paul Atreides' story after his ascent to the Imperial throne and is expected to conclude the filmmaker's trilogy. Meanwhile, "Avengers: Doomsday" is directed by the Russo brothers and will bring Downey back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom.
The same-day release has naturally drawn comparisons to "Barbenheimer," the moviegoing phenomenon sparked when "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" opened simultaneously in 2023.
"Dune: Part Three" and "Avengers: Doomsday" are both scheduled to open in North American theaters on December 18, 2026.
via： ELLE