Category: Culture

(This post was originally published in 2021 for the release of Dune, but all of these terms are still relevant today as you head to theaters for Dune: Part Two)

Dune: Part Two is one of the biggest movie releases of 2024, but if you haven’t read Frank Herbert’s fantasy/sci-fi epic or caught David Lynch’s maligned 1984 adaptation, you may quickly find yourself lost. We’re here to help with most of the Dune jargon you need to know while watching the new film.

This post is meant to be as spoiler-free as possible. I have not yet seen the new film, and have purposefully avoided previews, reviews and trailers.

It’s also not a guarantee that Dune will be comprehensible, even if you’re read the book already and generally know what’s going on. The 1984 version of the film was a hilarious mess, and I have my doubts that any director can successfully adapt the story. Still, this glossary should help you from being completely lost.

Here are five terms you should know going into Dune, plus a bunch of background information on the world.