Dune Part 2 has grossed more than $240 million at the domestic box office since its release four weeks ago, a number thanks in part to low-cost contributors.
According to research conducted by Nikolaj Mathies, CEO of Vievo Media, the Warner Bros./legendary sci-fi sequel had 117 posts on TikTok in the year leading up to its release, up from 108 during its predecessor's campaign. However, it's not just the amount of content that's changed; it's the type of content.
On social platforms like TikTok, creator engagement is a huge factor in driving audiences. Direct messages from the cast accounted for 24% of his “Dune” TikTok content. In particular, the trailer for “Dune: Part 2” had over 76 million views between Zendaya and Timothée when it included Chalamet's intro, but when it didn't include the intro. She received 7 million views. Additionally, videos of the cast responding to fan comments across 13 posts have been viewed more than 52.5 million times.
The decision to prioritize red carpet content for Dune 2 also seems to have had a big impact on ratings. Winning over female audiences is a notable struggle for sci-fi films, but “Dune'' has a particularly strong opening at the box office due to its association with the fashion world, according to movie marketing research firm Funbox. It is said to have increased by $2 million.
Not to mention, 57% of all TikTok users are female, 24% fall in the 18-24 age range, and stars Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and Chalamet each maintain over 60% female fan bases.
Traffic for hashtags like #zendaya currently garners more than 38 billion views on TikTok. Although not entirely thanks to the platform, Dune's core audience has grown by a whopping 67.5% since then, from 2.6 million to 8 million, according to FanBox. Fans increased his 84%.
Following news of a possible ban on TikTok, the role of social media in relationships with movie studios continues to be debated. While both are undoubtedly competing for attention, there's no denying that TikTok, intentionally or unintentionally, gave Dune: Part 2 a huge boost at the box office.
