For those that have seen it - necessary to read book(s) to enjoy movie?

No not if you pay attention. I've read the first book before and my brother hasn't, we both just saw it yesterday and he wasn't confused about anything and enjoyed it.

The movie is confusing af for newcomers. Too many names and places references for the unprepared.

This is a great question - You don't have to read the book to know the overall gist but you'll certainly get confused with the Bene Gesserit stuff for sure.

My daughter watched it with me last night. That was where i had to tell her what the heck was going on.

No if you want just the bare minimum. And yes if you come out of this movie with a newly found interest in this universe.

If you just see the movie for what's on screen, you'll be fine. But there's lore that you're gonna miss, like what happened previously in this universe, the lack of digital technology, the origins of houses, the guild and that religious female order. The movie also doesn't really explain the concept of the navigators and how they use spice for space travel.

This is something the old 1984 movie does better, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv0nlpFVpyI

Not really.

😎

I think judging from the lameness of a lot of other science fiction movies that Dune could be appreciated, or at least entertaining, for people who are not familiar with the book. The original movie did a better job in the beginning of orienting viewers as to who was who and what planet was what planet. I was not so impressed with this Dune, but it was watchable. But, if you really want to appreciated it and know what to look for you will have read the book. It's just a huge investment ... a very long book.

Regardless of how understandable it is, don't watch it now. Wait until part 2 is completed, the way the movie ends is abrupt and gives no closure at all. Also people watching it because of the trailers that focused on Zendaya are in for a rude surprised as her character is hardly in the movie at all and will not have anything close to the expected screen time until part 2 comes out... Though even then her character is really not one you would expect to be receiving start billing for, as the character really only merits co-staring at best and is really just a major supporting character.

No, you don't need to read the book in order to enjoy the movie.

I knew absolutely nothing about the book and still really enjoyed the movie. I'm sure there are a lot of split opinions on this movie, from die-hard fans not getting enough of the books in the movie to newcomers being confused.

It feels like you're dropped into the world and it takes you along. There are some names and themes dropped that are clear references to other parts of the world/lore that you won't get unless you read the book. I believe that's not an issue in the movie. It's done in such a way that the movie lets you know this is a big universe and a big story to go along with it. Them referencing other things just shows we're dropped into the story and get pulled into the ride, the section of story that is occurring. There is enough context, for me at least, that the general plot is understood.

I hope you still watched it.