By rikififi90 
On March 2, 2025, the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles hosted the 97th Academy Awards, where Dune: Part 2 secured the coveted Oscar for Best Visual Effects, standing out among contenders like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Better Man, Alien: Romulus, and Wicked. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film captivated the Academy with the exceptional work of the team led by Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer, transforming the deserts of Arrakis into a breathtaking visual spectacle. Before the Oscars, Dune: Part 2 had already dominated the Visual Effects Society Awards (VES), earning seven nominations and four wins, solidifying its frontrunner status. In Brazil, the film premiered on February 29, 2024, packing theaters and sparking fervent discussions on social media, particularly over the sandworm scenes and epic desert battles that raised the bar for blockbuster visual effects. With a budget of 190 million dollars and a global box office haul of 711 million, the film not only recouped its costs but also cemented the technical legacy of the franchise, which began with Dune: Part 1 winning six Oscars in 2022, including the same category.
The victory was driven by a unique blend of practical effects and cutting-edge CGI, spearheaded by DNEG, which brought to life realistic sandstorms and massive sandworms stretching up to 400 meters in the story. Paul Lambert, a visual effects supervisor with prior Oscars for Blade Runner 2049 and First Man, guided the team through over 2,000 visual shots.
Although Denis Villeneuve was surprisingly overlooked for Best Director, the win in Best Visual Effects, alongside the film’s five nominations—Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design—underscores the production’s technical and artistic strength on a global scale.
A frontrunner status solidified
Dune: Part 2 arrived at the Oscars with an impressive track record, having swept the VES Awards in February 2025 with wins in categories like photorealistic feature effects and effects simulation.
The competition was fierce, featuring films like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Wicked with striking visuals, but the epic scale and innovation of Dune: Part 2 stood out to Academy voters.
The art behind the visual effects
Bringing the Arrakis desert to life as a dynamic, living backdrop was a technical feat for the Dune: Part 2 visual effects team. The sequence where Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, leads the Fremen against a Harkonnen spice harvester showcases practical effects like gimbal-mounted platforms mimicking sandworms, paired with DNEG’s advanced CGI for explosions and shifting sands. Gerd Nefzer, a special effects expert, deployed industrial fans to blow real sand on set, providing an authentic foundation for digital enhancements.
Unlike Alien: Romulus, centered on creatures, or Better Man, with its creative take on Robbie Williams, Dune: Part 2 excelled in grandeur. Sandstorms, simulated over three months with software generating 1 billion particles per frame, stunned with their immersive realism.
In Brazil, audiences at the Festival do Rio in October 2024 praised the sandworms’ lifelike textures, dubbed “desert dragons” on social media, as a standout feature of the film.
The technical legacy of the Dune franchise
The Dune franchise already boasted a winning history, with Dune: Part 1 taking six Oscars in 2022, including Best Visual Effects. For the sequel, Paul Lambert’s team upped the ante, featuring over 2,000 visual shots compared to 1,200 in the first film—a 66% increase. The final battle on Arrakis, pitting the Fremen against the Sardaukar, blended real locations in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates with detailed CGI, earning standing ovations at the Festival do Rio.
About 60% of the scenes incorporated practical effects, such as real sand and controlled explosions, minimizing reliance on pure post-production. This hybrid approach, a DNEG signature, lent authenticity to the shifting dunes and intricately animated sandworms with 12 texture layers.
A global box office of 711 million dollars, including 2.5 million tickets sold in Brazil, reflects the film’s visual and narrative impact, cementing Villeneuve’s work as a benchmark in modern sci-fi.
A fierce Oscar showdown
The Best Visual Effects category at the 2025 Oscars was fiercely contested. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes showcased Wētā FX’s performance capture for lifelike apes in a post-apocalyptic world, while Better Man surprised with its CGI depiction of Robbie Williams as a monkey, blending innovation with storytelling.
Alien: Romulus delivered terrifying creatures through practical and digital effects, and Wicked enchanted with Oz’s magical world, but Dune: Part 2 triumphed with its unmatched scale and narrative integration.
Key technical details that stood out
Dune: Part 2’s visual effects shone through specific elements that wowed the Academy:
- Over 2,000 CGI shots, a leap from 1,200 in the first film.
- Sandstorms simulated with 1 billion particles per frame, taking three months.
- Sandworms animated with 12 texture layers, from scales to internal motion.
- 60% of scenes used practical effects, like fans blowing real sand.
- Real locations in Jordan and the UAE enhanced with digital extensions.
These technical feats set the film apart from its rivals.
Timeline of Dune’s Oscar journey
Dune: Part 2’s rise to the Oscar unfolded through pivotal moments:
- February 29, 2024: Global premiere, grossing 178 million dollars on opening weekend.
- October 2024: Screening at the Festival do Rio, spotlighting its visual prowess.
- January 2025: Five Oscar nominations, including Best Visual Effects.
- February 2025: Four VES Awards wins, reinforcing its lead.
- March 2, 2025: Oscar victory at the Dolby Theatre.
These milestones highlight the film’s consistent strength throughout the year.
Dune’s impact on sci-fi cinema
Securing the Best Visual Effects Oscar cements Dune: Part 2 as a sci-fi milestone. With 711 million dollars in global earnings and 2.5 million viewers in Brazil, it proves complex narratives can pair with revolutionary visuals. Villeneuve’s snub for Best Director sparked online debate, but the technical win showcased the team’s collective brilliance.
The hybrid practical-CGI approach, with 60% of scenes shot live, sets a new standard for blockbusters. At the Dolby Theatre, Paul Lambert thanked Villeneuve and DNEG, noting years of effort to craft something unprecedented.
In Brazil, social media buzz and Festival do Rio acclaim reflect its worldwide reach, already influencing future projects aiming for immersive, realistic visual effects.
A night celebrating technical mastery
The Oscar handover to Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer was among the night’s most cheered moments, hosted by Conan O’Brien. The Best Visual Effects win honored the team’s groundbreaking innovation.
Other highlights included Emilia Pérez winning Best Original Song and Flow taking Best Animation, but Dune: Part 2’s visual triumph stood out as a testament to modern cinematic excellence.
On March 2, 2025, the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles hosted the 97th Academy Awards, where Dune: Part 2 secured the coveted Oscar for Best Visual Effects, standing out among contenders like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Better Man, Alien: Romulus, and Wicked. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film captivated the Academy with the exceptional work of the team led by Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer, transforming the deserts of Arrakis into a breathtaking visual spectacle. Before the Oscars, Dune: Part 2 had already dominated the Visual Effects Society Awards (VES), earning seven nominations and four wins, solidifying its frontrunner status. In Brazil, the film premiered on February 29, 2024, packing theaters and sparking fervent discussions on social media, particularly over the sandworm scenes and epic desert battles that raised the bar for blockbuster visual effects. With a budget of 190 million dollars and a global box office haul of 711 million, the film not only recouped its costs but also cemented the technical legacy of the franchise, which began with Dune: Part 1 winning six Oscars in 2022, including the same category.
The victory was driven by a unique blend of practical effects and cutting-edge CGI, spearheaded by DNEG, which brought to life realistic sandstorms and massive sandworms stretching up to 400 meters in the story. Paul Lambert, a visual effects supervisor with prior Oscars for Blade Runner 2049 and First Man, guided the team through over 2,000 visual shots.
Although Denis Villeneuve was surprisingly overlooked for Best Director, the win in Best Visual Effects, alongside the film’s five nominations—Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design—underscores the production’s technical and artistic strength on a global scale.
A frontrunner status solidified
Dune: Part 2 arrived at the Oscars with an impressive track record, having swept the VES Awards in February 2025 with wins in categories like photorealistic feature effects and effects simulation.
The competition was fierce, featuring films like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Wicked with striking visuals, but the epic scale and innovation of Dune: Part 2 stood out to Academy voters.
The art behind the visual effects
Bringing the Arrakis desert to life as a dynamic, living backdrop was a technical feat for the Dune: Part 2 visual effects team. The sequence where Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, leads the Fremen against a Harkonnen spice harvester showcases practical effects like gimbal-mounted platforms mimicking sandworms, paired with DNEG’s advanced CGI for explosions and shifting sands. Gerd Nefzer, a special effects expert, deployed industrial fans to blow real sand on set, providing an authentic foundation for digital enhancements.
Unlike Alien: Romulus, centered on creatures, or Better Man, with its creative take on Robbie Williams, Dune: Part 2 excelled in grandeur. Sandstorms, simulated over three months with software generating 1 billion particles per frame, stunned with their immersive realism.
In Brazil, audiences at the Festival do Rio in October 2024 praised the sandworms’ lifelike textures, dubbed “desert dragons” on social media, as a standout feature of the film.
The technical legacy of the Dune franchise
The Dune franchise already boasted a winning history, with Dune: Part 1 taking six Oscars in 2022, including Best Visual Effects. For the sequel, Paul Lambert’s team upped the ante, featuring over 2,000 visual shots compared to 1,200 in the first film—a 66% increase. The final battle on Arrakis, pitting the Fremen against the Sardaukar, blended real locations in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates with detailed CGI, earning standing ovations at the Festival do Rio.
About 60% of the scenes incorporated practical effects, such as real sand and controlled explosions, minimizing reliance on pure post-production. This hybrid approach, a DNEG signature, lent authenticity to the shifting dunes and intricately animated sandworms with 12 texture layers.
A global box office of 711 million dollars, including 2.5 million tickets sold in Brazil, reflects the film’s visual and narrative impact, cementing Villeneuve’s work as a benchmark in modern sci-fi.
A fierce Oscar showdown
The Best Visual Effects category at the 2025 Oscars was fiercely contested. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes showcased Wētā FX’s performance capture for lifelike apes in a post-apocalyptic world, while Better Man surprised with its CGI depiction of Robbie Williams as a monkey, blending innovation with storytelling.
Alien: Romulus delivered terrifying creatures through practical and digital effects, and Wicked enchanted with Oz’s magical world, but Dune: Part 2 triumphed with its unmatched scale and narrative integration.
Key technical details that stood out
Dune: Part 2’s visual effects shone through specific elements that wowed the Academy:
- Over 2,000 CGI shots, a leap from 1,200 in the first film.
- Sandstorms simulated with 1 billion particles per frame, taking three months.
- Sandworms animated with 12 texture layers, from scales to internal motion.
- 60% of scenes used practical effects, like fans blowing real sand.
- Real locations in Jordan and the UAE enhanced with digital extensions.
These technical feats set the film apart from its rivals.
Timeline of Dune’s Oscar journey
Dune: Part 2’s rise to the Oscar unfolded through pivotal moments:
- February 29, 2024: Global premiere, grossing 178 million dollars on opening weekend.
- October 2024: Screening at the Festival do Rio, spotlighting its visual prowess.
- January 2025: Five Oscar nominations, including Best Visual Effects.
- February 2025: Four VES Awards wins, reinforcing its lead.
- March 2, 2025: Oscar victory at the Dolby Theatre.
These milestones highlight the film’s consistent strength throughout the year.
Dune’s impact on sci-fi cinema
Securing the Best Visual Effects Oscar cements Dune: Part 2 as a sci-fi milestone. With 711 million dollars in global earnings and 2.5 million viewers in Brazil, it proves complex narratives can pair with revolutionary visuals. Villeneuve’s snub for Best Director sparked online debate, but the technical win showcased the team’s collective brilliance.
The hybrid practical-CGI approach, with 60% of scenes shot live, sets a new standard for blockbusters. At the Dolby Theatre, Paul Lambert thanked Villeneuve and DNEG, noting years of effort to craft something unprecedented.
In Brazil, social media buzz and Festival do Rio acclaim reflect its worldwide reach, already influencing future projects aiming for immersive, realistic visual effects.
A night celebrating technical mastery
The Oscar handover to Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer was among the night’s most cheered moments, hosted by Conan O’Brien. The Best Visual Effects win honored the team’s groundbreaking innovation.
Other highlights included Emilia Pérez winning Best Original Song and Flow taking Best Animation, but Dune: Part 2’s visual triumph stood out as a testament to modern cinematic excellence.
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