After Barbenheimer, Robert Downey Jr wants 2026 Christmas to be ‘Dunesday’ in box office clash with Timothée Chalamet

Robert Downey Jr's Avengers: Doomsday and Timothée Chalamet's Dune: Part Three are all set to clash at the box office later this year.

Updated on: Jan 15, 2026, 16:42:05 IST

By Santanu Das

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Who can forget the Barbenheimer event at the box office? Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer led a cultural phenomenon in the summer of 2023, with the simultaneous release of two vastly different blockbuster films. Oppenheimer star Robert Downey Jr, who went on to win an Oscar for that film, seems interested in replicating some of that magic again for his upcoming release.

Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet want to make 'Dunesday' happen at the box office.

What does Dunesday mean?

This time, the star is aiming for a box office bonanza with ‘Dunesday’, which is a term he coined for the box office release of his film, Avengers: Doomsday and Timothée Chalamet's Dune: Part Three. Both films are set to release in theatres on December 18, right before Christmas. The two stars met in LA on Wednesday for a special screening of Chalamet’s recent release Marty Supreme. A clip from the event was shared on X by a fan page of Timothée.

At the event, Robert said, "We both have films opening on December 18, and we decided to coin it … We’re thinking Dunesday.’ We’ll see if we’re still friends by then.”

About both the films

Avengers: Doomsday is a star-studded tentpole for the MCU. Robert Downey Jr is returning to play the villain, Doctor Doom, in the multiverse-crossing movie. Other returning heroes include Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Simu Liu, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen and Lewis Pullman.

Meanwhile, Dune Part Three is based on Frank Herbert's 1969 novel, Dune Messiah, which follows Atreides' struggles with the consequences of his Fremen-led jihad upon his ascension to Emperor Muad'Dib. It also stars Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Bardem, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. The sequel also added Florence Pugh, Lea Seydoux, Christopher Walken, Austin Butler, and Souheila Yacoub to the cast. Jason Momoa will reprise his role in the upcoming third film.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupechaRead More

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