20 similarities between the 'Dune' and 'Star Wars' franchises

Anyone who has ever tuned into a Star Wars movie has seen Tatooine. It's likely the most iconic planet in the Star Wars universe. Like Tatooine, the setting for Dune is very much a desert planet. Arrakis and Tatooine, outside of the latter's Cantina bar, are pretty identical in how they look and feel. 

Having a celebrated individual with higher powers isn't unique to Star Wars or Dune, but it does operate as the biggest through line for each property. Anakin Skywalker, for this comparison, is the Chosen One in the Star Wars franchise, just as Timothee Chalamet's Paul Atreides is in the Dune universe. Both are revered for their otherworldly skills and are viewed as godly figures who can change the landscape. 

A good villain is essential for any riveting sci-fi story. Star Wars and Dune are great examples of this. Going even further, it's important to have a hierarchy when it comes to these big bads. While Star Wars has its brute forces in a Darth Vader or a Darth Maul, there's also The Emperor working behind the scenes. Dune does a similar thing with an Emperor, as well, along with Dune: Part Two's Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, as played by Austin Butler. 

Both George Lucas and Frank Herbert loved the idea of menacing, larger-than-life creatures in their universes. There are striking similarities between both men's visions of "desert monsters." The Sarlaccs (and the Krayt Dragon) are very much like Dune's Sandworms... neither of them are creatures you'd want to be met by while navigating the desert. 

What makes these supernatural heroes (and antagonists) so powerful isn't necessarily what they do when wielding their weapon of choice. In Star Wars, the use of Jedi mind tricks is one of the most powerful tools to influence others. Dune has a similar concept at play with the Bene Gesserit and The Voice, which is a tool to force others to do what they command. Sounds familiar, right? 

Every desert needs its inhabitants. The Fremen and Tusken Raiders fill this role similarly in the two universes. The former, though, is a group that is far more humanized in the books and movies, even working alongside and eventually following the likes of Paul Atreides. That's different from our perception of the Tusken Raiders, who are more menacing than they are understood. 

The use and influence of spice in Star Wars and Dune are very different, but it's no coincidence that the two exist in each. In Dune, spice is an empowering substance that makes the user clairvoyant and intensifies certain abilities. Star Wars doesn't give spice that sort of power, but there are similarities in its addictive nature and the smuggling of it. 

If you felt deja vu while watching Baron Harkonnen take a dip in a black liquid bath in Dune, it's likely because of the Bacta Tanks in Star Wars. Darth Vader and dozens of others have used the tanks to heal and regenerate just as Baron did. 

Cloning is a common occurrence in Star Wars. While different, there's also the use of Force Ghosts, which Anakin Skywalker utilized in Return of the Jedi. Gholas fall in the middle of those when it comes to Dune. Moviegoers have yet to see this concept play out on the big screen, so I'll avoid any spoilers that may come in Dune: Messiah. Book readers know what I'm talking about. 

What's an empire without its troops? Stormtroopers and The Sardaukar are the forces used by the bad guys in both universes. The Dune version seems far more imposing than the sometimes poorly aimed Stormtroopers. Both present threats to our heroes. 

If you're operating in a galaxy far, far away, there has to be some way of accelerating the travel time between planets. Star Wars fans are well aware of lightspeed and how that jumps ships from Point A to Point B at hyperdrive speed. There are also the purrgils, which are whale-like creatures that can jump across space, as seen in Ahsoka. In Dune, there is space folding done by the Space Guild, which is seen in the books. 

Dune's Crysknife still has a ways to go to get on the pop culture level of Star Wars' lightsabers, but there's no denying that the two are the starring weapons of choice in these films. 

There is plenty of family bonding in each of these sci-fi epics. The dynamic between Luke and Leia is apparent throughout the films as the two work together to fight the empire. Moviegoers haven't yet seen the dynamic between Paul and Alia (who made a very brief appearance in a dream sequence in Dune: Part Two), but book readers know how powerful these two beings are. What also makes these sibling relationships so interesting is the differences they share in views and their mannerisms. 

Who doesn't love a good character arc? Star Wars and Dune are perfect examples of stories that execute character development like no other. The rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker parallels that of Paul Atreides, which will become more apparent with each passing movie but very much so throughout the books. Going from good to bad (or bad to good) is a classic character throughline that both lean into with their protagonists. 

Spoiler warning: Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker, who is Luke Skywalker's father. Another spoiler warning: Baron Harkonnen is Paul Atreides' grandfather. Both are big twists that play pivotal turning points in each franchise. 

Supernatural beings are aplenty between the two. Dune relies on the Bene Gesserits as the all-powerful seers and those who can harness elite mental prowess. In Star Wars, Nightsisters are witches who control dark magic and have similar abilities to the Bene Gesserit in that they can mind control, among other abilities. 

Robots are another common entity in these two worlds, but for different reasons. Star Wars features a bevy of robots, from R2-D2 and C3PO to recent ones like BB-8. They typically play large roles as sidekicks to their masters. In Dune, there is a distrust of robots and, in their case, AI and computers. When we jump into Dune, these machines are long gone, as civilization has already gone through the ups and downs of relying too heavily on AI. 

We're not saying that the iconic X-Wings from Star Wars and Dune's Ornithopters are the same, but if you catch them at the right perspective, their X-shaped wings look eerily similar. 

Let's give a round of applause to two of the best film scores. Star Wars and Dune didn't waste any budget when putting together their music. John Williams and Hans Zimmer are two of the most well-known composers, and their work adds another layer to every scene in these movies. 

This one's more fun than it is serious. There have been a few actors who have appeared in both universes. Oscar Isaac appears in both as Poe Dameron and Leto Atreides. Stellan Skarsgard plays Baron Harkonnen and Andor's Luthen Rael.