Dwayne Johnson Threequel Officially Challenges Dune 3 For Box Office Crown

Dwayne Johnson is back on the big screen, and this time he is taking on the titans of the box office with his upcoming threequel. Sony Pictures announced that the third film in their Jumanji reboot, titled Open World, would release on December 23, 2026. The franchise returns to the screens seven years after its previous entry.

Two worlds collide. One final game. #Jumanji: Open World – the last game is coming only to cinemas December 23. https://t.co/zaVP5PgiQ3

December is packed with big releases this year, including Dune 3 and Avengers: Doomsday, both of which are releasing a week earlier on December 18, 2026. Dwayne Johnson is one of the biggest stars in the world and commands huge box office numbers, but will his adventure comedy hold the fort with such mammoths releasing?

Dwayne Johnson Takes on Marvel and Dune 3 At the Box Office

A still from Dune 3 | Credits: Warner Bros.

Dwayne Johnson’s Jumanji: Open World was initially set to release on December 11, 2026. However, it has now been moved to Christmas week, which will bring it to the battleground against Marvel’s biggest showdown since Endgame and Denis Villeneuve’s conclusion to the Dune saga. Both films, which fans have dubbed Dunesday, will release together a week earlier.

While Avengers: Doomsday has a lot of hype surrounding it and is poised to have a $300-400 million opening weekend, Dune 3 is no less. The sci-fi epic boasts an incredible cast, and Dune: Part Two’s cultural and box office impact is still a huge driver. With Endgame Encore putting the film at the top of the worldwide box office of all time, Marvel has primed audiences for a huge turnout.

So, Johnson was going to lose out on screens if Jumanji 3 had released on its original date. The postponement is a good decision, since it targets the family audiences on Christmas week, who are waiting to watch a film that is catered to them. Both Doomsday and Dune 3 are sagas that might not appeal to a family audience.

The one issue Dwayne Johnson might face is the staying power of the Jumanji franchise. The last sequel, The Next Level, was released back in 2019 (funnily enough, when Endgame released), and though both movies have collectively earned more than $1.7 billion at the box office, the threequel is not exactly on top of the audiences’ watchlist.

Johnson’s Jumanji 3 Promises to be a Laugh Riot

Dwayne Johnson in Jumanji: Open World | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing

One of the big things that is going for the Jumanji franchise is the chemistry between its cast and the hilarious bits they commit to. The films star Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan, all of whom have displayed genuinely hilarious performances. The films are also fun adventures into the world first introduced by Robin Williams.

Gillan, who plays Martha Kaply in the franchise, recently spoke about her experience working on Jumanji: Open World, reuniting with the cast after a long time. She promised fans that the film would be a laugh riot like its predecessors and that the long gap was not really a deterrent. She said to ComingSoon,

I love making those films. I mean, when do you get the opportunity to do all of this amazing character work and play against type and be in a huge blockbuster that people are excited about? Normally those two things don’t go together… And to work with those guys again, I mean, I was just laughing the whole time. It’s one of those really special, once-in-a-career type of jobs.

The film will also be the final part in the trilogy. Johnson announced the final wrap on Instagram, calling it one of the most fun and creatively joyful experiences of his career, and he dedicated the film to Robin Williams, star of the 1995 original, who died in 2014. Billed as the last chapter of the trilogy, the movie carries a farewell feeling that could encourage longtime fans to return.

Do you think Dwayne Johnson’s film will hold up against Doctor Doom and Lisan-al-Gaib? Comment below.