The Tune of Dune: 7 Denis Villeneuve’s Sci-Fi Picks to Watch on Prime

Having directed the brilliant Arrival (2015), Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and the two Dune movies (2021 and 2024), Denis Villeneuve has already inscribed his name in cinematic history as the acclaimed sci-fi filmmaker.

Here are 7 movies, recommended by the director and available for watching on Prime Video, that guarantee a superior sci-fi experience.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

It comes as no surprise that this iconic Old Hollywood masterpiece is in Villeneuve’s list. According to his own admission, Kubrick’s epic space opera was his first "cinematic shock" that became his most favorite movie, inspiring him for his own science fiction works.

2. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Steven Spielberg ’s classic drama movie affected not only the 1980’s genre’s features, but also the Dune director’s cinema taste, entering him the world of the French New Wave by assembling Francois Truffaut in its cast, and, obviously, his love for sci-fi films.

3. Blade Runner (1982)

“Most of the time in sci-fi movies, the world is purely a vision of the future, but in the original Blade Runner, you felt the dirt that was coming out of ages,” stated Villeneuve, who was so in love with Ridley Scott ’s work that even decided to make a sequel of it.

4. Inception (2010)

Admiring the overall filmography and cinematic decisions of Christopher Nolan, the Arrival filmmaker especially emphasized the impact Leonardo DiCaprio ’s starred film had on the industry, with its sensational intellectual concepts and action sequences.

5. Under the Skin (2013)

There is a less popular pick in the filmmaker’s sci-fi list too, which appears to be Jonathan Glazer’s underrated feature about an otherworldly woman who preys on men, mentioned by Villeneuve as one of his favorite movies of the 21st century.

6. Downsizing (2017)

Another surprising choice here is mixedly-received Alexander Payne’s sci-fi comedy, following Matt Damon’s character undergoing a special procedure to shrink his body. The accomplished director’s appreciation is definitely a reason to give it a try.

7. Tenet (2020)

Finally, here comes the latest science fiction movie of Nolan, experimenting with time and hidden philosophical messages, just like Villeneuve’s Arrival. He even called it “an incredible cinematic achievement”, stating that Nolan’s level of directing is “unmatched.”