‘Avengers Doomsday’ or ‘Dune 3’? The internet has already chosen its winner

This is the Barbenheimer of 2026. For some reason, Disney and Warner have chosen December 18 as the exact date on which their two biggest films of the year will face off in an epic (and very long) duel. On one side, Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel’s fifth mega-crossover movie. On the other, Dune 3, the conclusion of Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy, which has secured all the IMAX screens. There are still months to go, but it seems the Internet has already picked its favorite… and it may not be the one you think.

Chalamets, assemble!

It’s still too early to know how audiences will react, of course, and the box office is still a mystery, but it seems that the announcement of ticket presales for the Marvel movie (which will be on July 20, by the way) has tripled Google searches for the Dune 3 trailer. Does this mean anything? Considering that on YouTube alone Villeneuve’s trailer has 32.2 million views, maybe not.

YouTube Download

At the end of the day, the Internet is just a niche where it always seems like things are happening, but really it’s just a group of people shouting at each other. It’s worth keeping in mind that Dune 2 grossed $714 million while Marvel have been on the decline for years, with a brand that’s increasingly battered. It doesn’t seem likely that Arrakis is going to defeat Doom, but in this crazy movie world you never know.

In the end, the only big loser from this duel is going to be the latest Jumanji installment, which opens at the worst possible moment: one week after this showdown that, in all likelihood, will keep dominating the box office at least until January. Tough luck again, Dwayne Johnson.