Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet Aim to Create “Dunesday” Trend
Amid the excitement surrounding upcoming film releases, actors Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet are looking to create a new trend dubbed “Dunesday.” This catchy term refers to the simultaneous release of their blockbuster films on December 18.
Announcement of “Dunesday”
During a recent event in Los Angeles, the two stars shared the stage at a special screening of Chalamet’s film, *Marty Supreme*. Downey Jr. humorously introduced the term, stating that both actors have projects premiering on the same date and thought it would be fitting to brand the day.
Details on Upcoming Films
- Dune: Part Three – Directed by Denis Villeneuve, it continues the epic saga based on Frank Herbert’s novel.
- Avengers: Doomsday – Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, this film follows the success of *Avengers: Endgame*.
Looking Back at Box Office Trends
The trend of films releasing simultaneously aims to bolster box office success for both titles. This strategy achieved notable results with the *Barbenheimer* phenomenon in 2023. The combined grosses of *Barbie* and *Oppenheimer* reached nearly $2.5 billion worldwide.
Other releases have since attempted similar strategies, though with varying degrees of success. One example includes the pairing of *Wicked* and *Gladiator II*, dubbed “Glicked.”
Previous Film Performance
The last Avengers installment, *Endgame*, remains an industry benchmark, earning $2.8 billion globally. Meanwhile, *Dune: Part Two* performed admirably as well, grossing $715 million worldwide.
As Downey Jr. quipped, “We’ll see if we’re still friends by then,” the industry and fans alike await the arrival of what could become a new cultural phenomenon in cinema: Dunesday.
