Florence Pugh Reveals Her Ideal Dunesday Viewing Order for ‘Dune: Part Three’ and ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Florence Pugh holds a rare spot on this year’s movie calendar, because she appears in both films landing on Dunesday. She plays Princess Irulan in ‘Dune: Part Three‘ and Yelena Belova in ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘, and both open in theaters on December 18.

The nickname comes from Robert Downey Jr., who plays Doctor Doom, and Timothée Chalamet, who returns as Paul Atreides. The two stars coined it at a January screening chat, joking that they would see if they were still friends by the time the films arrived.

The overlap was not always the plan. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ was pushed to a Christmas slot after production delays, which put it on the same date as the ‘Dune’ sequel and set off fan jokes about the pairing long before the nickname stuck.

For Downey Jr., the film also marks a return to Marvel seven years after he left the franchise in ‘Avengers: Endgame’. Pugh, meanwhile, arrives fresh from playing Yelena Belova in ‘Thunderbolts*’, having first played Irulan in ‘Dune: Part Two’.

The comparison to Barbenheimer was immediate. That pairing of ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ in 2023 turned a same-day release into a cultural event, and studios have chased that kind of momentum ever since.

Now Pugh has weighed in on how audiences should actually tackle the day. In an interview with ELLE, she suggested starting with ‘Dune’, then breaking for lunch to process what you saw, and perhaps keeping the night free to talk it over.

Only after that would she move on to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, either the following day or in the evening. In other words, her plan treats the double feature as something to savor rather than endure.

The order is notable. Brazilian outlet Omelete read her approach as a sign that the ‘Dune’ finale is a film that invites reflection, since she would want time to digest it before moving on.

“Forgive me for all I’ve done.” Experience the epic conclusion. Dune: Part Three only in theaters and IMAX December 18. #DuneMovie #FilmedforIMAX https://t.co/x9Nftg9yXd

— DUNE (@dunemovie) July 8, 2026

The runtimes make her pacing easier to understand. Current AMC Theatres listings put ‘Dune: Part Three’ at 2 hours and 30 minutes and ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ at 2 hours and 45 minutes, a gap of just 15 minutes.

Watching both back to back adds up to 5 hours and 15 minutes before trailers, snack runs and bathroom breaks. Add a lunch and a long conversation in between, and Pugh’s version of Dunesday becomes a full day of commitment.

Plenty of fans and critics take the opposite view. 9to5Marvel, for one, advises seeing the Marvel film first and booking ‘Dune’ in IMAX 70mm early so the premium seats are locked in.

Box office chatter adds another layer to the debate. Headlines have claimed ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is reportedly set to dominate its rival on opening weekend based on presales, while UK reports say Vue rushed to add screenings for ‘Dune: Part Three’. None of that is confirmed, and both sides appear to have plenty of demand.

He used to be different. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc https://t.co/OUutSMZneq

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026

Pugh is far from the only star in the mix. ‘Dune: Part Three’ brings back Zendaya as Chani, along with Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson and Anya Taylor-Joy, while Jason Momoa has confirmed his return as Duncan Idaho.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has an enormous roster of its own. It includes returning faces such as Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston and Letitia Wright, plus X-Men veterans Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, James Marsden and Rebecca Romijn.

The previous ‘Dune’ installment earned over $700 million worldwide, so the stakes for a repeat performance are high. Villeneuve’s trilogy closer will have to compete for attention with a Marvel event that reunites much of the franchise’s biggest talent.

Seeing both on the same day is certainly possible, but Pugh’s staggered approach might be the most sensible for anyone who wants to remember what they watched. After all, two big-screen epics with 2 hours and 30 minutes or more each can blur together without a break.

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