Denis Villeneuve

Directing

Denis Villeneuve

Born 1967-10-03 · Gentilly, Québec, Canada

Denis Villeneuve (born October 3, 1967) is a Canadian filmmaker. He has received seven Canadian Screen Awards as well as nominations for three Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Villeneuve's films have grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide. Villeneuve began his career in his home country, directing four French-language dramas: August 32nd on Earth (1998); Maelström (2000); Polytechnique (2009), a dramatisation of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre; and Incendies (2010). The last of these gained him international prominence and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. He expanded to English-language films by directing the thrillers Prisoners (2013), Enemy (2013), and Sicario (2015). Villeneuve gained wider recognition for directing science fiction films. His work on Arrival (2016) earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director. This was followed by Blade Runner 2049 (2017), which was critically lauded but financially unsuccessful. His next projects were Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024), a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel of the same name. Both films were critically and commercially successful, with the former earning him Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.

Acting credits

Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert poster
8.2

An extraordinary live performance of Hans Zimmer's most beloved and renowned movie soundtracks, including music from Dune, Gladiator, Interstellar, and The Lion King. Featuring conversations with creative collaborators Billie Eilish, Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Finneas, Jerry Bruckheimer, Pharrell Williams, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and more.

Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert

2025

Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean poster
NR

Profiles the double Oscar winner, who helmed some of the most well-respected movies of all time, via never-before-seen archive and contributions from leading film directors. Haunted by the shadow of his dismissive father and his puritan upbringing, Lean was married six times, and he created layered and complex narratives in his work while struggling to find connection and meaning in his personal life.

Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean

2026

Trumbull Land poster
7.3

Everyone has seen a Trumbull sequence in Stanley Kubrick's "2001 A Space Odyssey", Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" or Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Recognized and respected SFX maestro, he has also directed two full-length films which left their mark on sci-fi cinema: "Silent Running" and "Brainstorm". Today, at over 70, Trumbull-the-pioneer continues his quest for innovation and still dreams of a cinema which places spectators into the film. "Trumbull Land" is an immersive portrait of Douglas Trumbull in his studios and a diving headfirst in his cinema.

Trumbull Land

2018

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel poster
7.2

An in-depth look of the 40 year journey, from post-war Germany to Hollywood royalty, of Hans Zimmer, the man who’s become the dominant force in the world of movie soundtracks. His film credits include The Lion King, Rain Man, Pirates of The Caribbean, Gladiator, The Dark Knight Trilogy, 12 Year A Slave, The Thin Red Line, The Da Vinci Code and Dune.

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel

2022

Three Kinds of Close Encounters poster
7.0

This new extra begins with a look back at the movie's impact at the time it was made. It goes on to explore filmmaking techniques, the human character drama in the film, crafting key scenes, the film's terrors and tensions, John Williams' score, cast and performances, Spielberg's passion for Arrival, the film's legacy and the spirit it maintains today, and more. Speakers include Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, and Denis Villeneuve.

Three Kinds of Close Encounters

2017

Le cri du rhinocéros poster
5.0

Marc Labrèche, the Director of this documentary, himself an author, actor and host, meets other creators to ask them these questions that inhabit him. Do artists have an expiry date? Do we create our best works in our youth or, on the contrary, does experience allow us to develop a greater mastery of our medium? In this respect, are there important differences between the different forms of art such as music, cinema and literature?

Le cri du rhinocéros

2018

Battle Zone: The Origins of Sicario poster
NR

A deep dive into the issues that inspired the Sicario screenplay.

Battle Zone: The Origins of Sicario

2016

No artwork available
7.0

This piece offers a fascinating discussion of how the music was made and why it compliments the story and tone.

Eternal Recurrence: The Score of 'Arrival'

2017

Xenolinguistics: Understanding 'Arrival' poster
7.0

A look at the source story, core human themes, the challenges and process of bringing the story to the screen, casting, creating realistic characters within their fields of expertise, alien ship and being design, costumes, alien language construction, and Denis Villeneuve's work.

Xenolinguistics: Understanding 'Arrival'

2017

Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche poster
6.0

This compelling documentary explores Canadian film culture and tries to discover what defines Canadian film through interviews with notable filmmakers.

Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche

2004

Acoustic Signatures: The Sound Design of 'Arrival' poster
7.0

A discussion of the film's use of sound, its positioning as a character in the film, what it represents, technical details of the sound design, and more.

Acoustic Signatures: The Sound Design of 'Arrival'

2017

No artwork available
NR

Composer Hans Zimmer and director Denis Villeneuve speak with Tim Greiving about the music of Dune. Presented by the SCL.

Screening Interview: Dune with Hans Zimmer and Denis Villeneuve

No artwork available
7.0

An in-depth discussion of the movie's editing process and, like the music piece, it discusses rather intelligently how the process makes and enhances the film.

Nonlinear Thinking: The Editing Process of 'Arrival'

2017

Lucid Dreams: The Making of Enemy poster
NR

The cast and crew of 'Enemy' guide the audience through the making of the film and the possible meanings behind its enigmatic imagery.

Lucid Dreams: The Making of Enemy

2014

Remembering the Ashes: Incendies Through Their Eyes poster
5.0

In Jordan, in the heart of the Middle East, Iraqi, Palestinian and Lebanese refugees are working on the filming of "Incendies", an adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad's play. Whether extras or onlookers, these exiles once experienced scenes very similar to the ones depicted in Denis Villeneuve's movie. "Remembering the Ashes: Incendies Through Their Eyes" explores their views on the vicious war and cycle of violence being recreated before their eyes, and by their own efforts.

Remembering the Ashes: Incendies Through Their Eyes

2010

In the Footsteps of the Camerosaur poster
3.5

Described as a self-portrait, this early auto-biographical short by Denis Villeneuve was presented by host Michel Désautels to introduce the young filmmaker before his participation in the The Europe-Asia Race. This was the title of the third season of La Course Destination Monde, a television programme broadcast on Radio-Canada in which contestants travelled to different regions of the world to make short films about their journeys.

In the Footsteps of the Camerosaur

1990

Zigrail poster
7.3

André and Kim are a young couple living together in Montréal. André works with his family in Bungee jumping business while Kim must go to study in Turkey. André stays at home until he received a call from her girlfriend announcing that she's pregnant and she is opting for abortion. To convince her not to, André begins a long journey to Istanbul as he goes deep in his mind to confront his life and fears.

Zigrail

1995

The Sounds of Dune: Behind the Scenes with Denis Villeneuve poster
2.0

Visionary director Denis Villeneuve discusses the creative benefits of early collaboration with his sound team, the process of crafting Dune's unique soundscapes including: Arrakis desert, sandworm, ornithopter, spice (melange) and the voice of the Bene Gesserit.

The Sounds of Dune: Behind the Scenes with Denis Villeneuve

2022

Behind the camera

Dune poster
7.8

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence - a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential - only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Dune

2021

Dune poster
7.8

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence - a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential - only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Dune

2021

Dune poster
7.8

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence - a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential - only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Dune

2021

Dune: Part Two poster
8.1

Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Dune: Part Two

2024

Dune: Part Two poster
8.1

Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Dune: Part Two

2024

Dune: Part Two poster
8.1

Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Dune: Part Two

2024

Blade Runner 2049 poster
7.6

Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

Blade Runner 2049

2017

Arrival poster
7.6

Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

Arrival

2016

Prisoners poster
8.1

After his six-year-old daughter is abducted, a desperate father takes justice into his own hands when he loses faith in the detective leading the investigation, setting both men on a collision course as the search descends into obsession and moral compromise.

Prisoners

2013

Sicario poster
7.4

An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.

Sicario

2015

Dune: Part Three poster
NR

Emperor Paul Atreides faces the fallout from his ascent to power as political plots and a galaxy-wide holy war endanger the future only he can see.

Dune: Part Three

2026

Dune: Part Three poster
NR

Emperor Paul Atreides faces the fallout from his ascent to power as political plots and a galaxy-wide holy war endanger the future only he can see.

Dune: Part Three

2026

Dune: Part Three poster
NR

Emperor Paul Atreides faces the fallout from his ascent to power as political plots and a galaxy-wide holy war endanger the future only he can see.

Dune: Part Three

2026

Enemy poster
6.8

A mild-mannered college professor discovers a look-alike actor and delves into the other man's private affairs.

Enemy

2014

Incendies poster
8.1

A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.

Incendies

2010

Incendies poster
8.1

A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.

Incendies

2010

Untitled James Bond Film poster
NR

The 26th installment in the franchise. Plot TBA.

Untitled James Bond Film

Maelström poster
6.2

A young woman's life spirals into chaos after she is involved in a hit-and-run accident. Then she encounters a mysterious man named Evian who offers her an opportunity for redemption. Narrated by a fish.

Maelström

2000

Maelström poster
6.2

A young woman's life spirals into chaos after she is involved in a hit-and-run accident. Then she encounters a mysterious man named Evian who offers her an opportunity for redemption. Narrated by a fish.

Maelström

2000

Polytechnique poster
7.1

A dramatization of the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, on December 9, 1989, where 14 female engineering students were murdered (and 13 were wounded) by a 25 year old psychotic misogynist armed with a semi-automatic weapon.

Polytechnique

2009

Polytechnique poster
7.1

A dramatization of the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, on December 9, 1989, where 14 female engineering students were murdered (and 13 were wounded) by a 25 year old psychotic misogynist armed with a semi-automatic weapon.

Polytechnique

2009

August 32nd on Earth poster
6.5

After escaping unscathed from a car accident, photo model Simone decides that having a baby is the only way to give her vacant life some meaning. She asks her best friend Philippe to get her pregnant, and he reluctantly agrees, on the condition that they conceive somewhere in a desert, so they leave Montréal on a 24-hour round-trip to Salt Lake City to find a suitable spot.

August 32nd on Earth

1999

August 32nd on Earth poster
6.5

After escaping unscathed from a car accident, photo model Simone decides that having a baby is the only way to give her vacant life some meaning. She asks her best friend Philippe to get her pregnant, and he reluctantly agrees, on the condition that they conceive somewhere in a desert, so they leave Montréal on a 24-hour round-trip to Salt Lake City to find a suitable spot.

August 32nd on Earth

1999

REW-FFWD poster
6.1

A young photographer is on assignment in Jamaica. It's a cultural shock! First anguished, he later becomes quite fascinated by the people he meets, their neighbourhood and their music.

REW-FFWD

1994