Timothée Chalamet Won The Weekend Box Office Lottery
Timothée Chalamet has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is now box office gold with his performances in Dune and The French Dispatch this weekend. These two films worked together this weekend to boost theatre ticket sales to a new high in the post-Covid-19 era, with a total of $94 million surpassing any four-week period since theatres reopened.
Timothée Chalamet oozes Charisma
The presence of New York City native Timothée Chalamet, who plays futuristic liberator Paul Atreides and student revolutionary Zeffirelli, respectively, is what connects Dune and The French Dispatch. With a run of remarkable performances since his breakout part in Luca Guadagnino’s oft-mentioned Call Me by Your Name, Chalamet has begun inexorable rise to Hollywood A-list stardom.
A Risk That Paid Off!
When Villeneuve announced that he would be “building the cast around” Chalamet instead of considering other actors for the role of Dune’s dystopian liberator Paul Atreides, he raised a lot of eyebrows. As filming for Dune began in 2019, some critics expressed reservations, citing Chalamet’s lack of experience as a leading man. Chalamet’s record had mostly consisted of supporting roles in creative ventures up until this time, with his only major role coming in Netflix’s The King as Henry V of England. These misgivings have been allayed, with Chalamet’s portrayal of Atreides being one of the most memorable features of a spectacular Dune production.
Chalamet’s Adaptability
Denis Villeneuve’s daring choice not to consider other actors for the starring role in Dune has been amply rewarded, with the Chalamet-led Dune proving to be Warner Bros.’ best opening of 2021 thus far. Chalamet’s versatility in performances, ranging from the science fiction landscape of Dune to the indie-anthology style of The French Dispatch, distinguishes him as a well-rounded actor who has categorically progressed from a precocious young talent to a guaranteed box office draw regardless of the project he is signed to.
The relative success of both films, however, highlights Chalamet’s ability to lure diverse crowds to theatres in order to see his performance. With Dune serving as a shining testament to his success and marketability.
