In the 40 years since David Lynch’s premiere dune (1984), this film was released in at least 13 home video formats, ranging from CED to 4K Blu-ray.

4K Blu-ray

On August 30, 2021, Koch Films released its 4K restoration of the film in Germany, and on the same day Arrow Video released editions in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada using the same remastered files.

There are numerous editions, but collectors will likely want to pick up Arrow’s “Exclusive Deluxe 4K Ultra HD Steelbook” edition, which includes a 100-page “The Design of Dune” book with pre-production concepts and designs. (Disclosure: I curated the images and text for the book). In addition, Koch released an “Ultimate Edition” which includes a 4K disc, 5 Blu-rays (including the TV edit and the Spicediver fan edit), and the CD soundtrack.

The Deluxe Arrow version was sold out but can easily be found on eBay for around $50. The cooking box set is harder to find because it wasn’t shipped outside of Europe, but copies are available on eBay starting at $250 and up. For more information, see our Behind the Scenes: New 4K Release from Lynch article. dune.

Blu-ray

The first Blu-ray release from duneI believe it was opened in France by the publisher on April 10, 2008. It would be several more years before Universal Home Entertainment released an American version on April 27, 2010. This version included all of the extras from the 2006 DVD, but did not include the TV edit.

There have been several other Blu-ray releases from around the world over the years, but the best copy you can get is the version that Arrow Video released at the same time as the 4K edition.

DVD

The first DVD I ever brought was the American version released by Universal on March 31, 1998 – I didn’t even have a DVD player back then! Since then there has been a seemingly endless stream of releases, re-releases, special editions, ultimate editions, collector’s editions and TV edit editions from all corners of the world.

My favorite dune DVD is the UK two-disc “Definitive DVD Special Edition” from Sanctuary Visual Entertainment dated April 5, 2004, which included: Impressions of Dune Documentary and a 32-page booklet. Expect to pay around $10 for this edition on eBay.

Also noteworthy dune: Extended Edition Steelbook, released in America on January 31, 2006 by Universal Home Entertainment. This was the first time that the Extended Edition (also known as the TV Edit or Alan Smithee version) was available in the widescreen 2.35:1 format. On eBay you’ll have to pay around $20 for this edition.

HD DVD (High-Definition Digital Versatile Disc)

HD-DVD lost the high-definition war to Blu-ray, but that didn’t stop there dune from release in this format by Universal Home Entertainment on November 28, 2006 in the United States and Canada.

Copies are easy to find on eBay for around $10.

UMD (Universal Media Disc)

UMD was the physical medium used in Sony’s portable gaming device PSP (PlayStation Portable). In addition to being used for games, many films were also available on it. On January 30, 2006, Sanctuary Visual Entertainment was released in the UK dune on the format. I also believe it was published twice in France on UMD.

The British release is often available on eBay for around $30 and up.

8mm

One of the more surprising formats is an 8mm video release from Japan. Released in 1991 by Warner Home Video and Weintraub Entertainment Group.

This version is extremely hard to find and I have only seen it once on eBay.

VHS

There are way too many VHS copies of it dune To list, but collectors may want to purchase the American Universal version, which came with the Terminology of the Empire booklet, or the later widescreen edition, both of which are available on eBay for around $10 each.

Beta max

There are fewer Betamax copies of dune in circulation because VHS won the videotape format war in the last century. However, these are easily available on eBay – expect to pay around $10 to $20 for one.

VCD (Video CD)

As the name suggests, the Video CD uses the Compact Disc format to store video content. This particular video CD comes from Malaysia and appears to be a pirated copy, with numerous typos, not least the film’s tagline: “A place beyond dreams, a film beyond your imagination.” Still, it’s a fun collector’s item.

Various VCDs from dune often show up on eBay, usually from Asia or the Middle East, where the format was popular, although generally of dubious legality.

DIVX (Digital Video Express)

At first glance it looks like another Video CD release, and the DIVX designation could easily be confused with the DivX video encoding format designation. However, this release is an old and very short-lived American video rental system that required a special DVD player connected to a telephone line to “call home” and start the time-limited viewing period. The discs were intended for single use and were designed to be disposed of after use – something I don’t think Frank Herbert would have approved of!

Copies are hard to find, but are generally cheap (around $10) if you can find them, since you can no longer play them. For more information about DIVX, see the Wikipedia article on DIVX.

LaserDisc

Between 1985 and 1997 there were eleven dune LaserDiscs were released from five different countries and in three different aspect ratios, from the simple VHS “upgrades” to the first widescreen releases and the collector’s box sets from Great Britain and Japan.

For more information, please visit David Lynch dune LaserDiscs – Collector Spotlight.

VHD (Video High Density)

dune was released on VHD in Japan by Thorn EMI and Tohokusinsha Home Video on December 16, 1985, just over a year after its theatrical premiere. The film was delivered on two caddies, with the film split across three sides and shown in a 4:3 aspect ratio and with Dolby Surround stereo sound.

Copies are easy to find on eBay for around $50, often from Japan, but due to the bulky size shipping costs may be high. For more information about VHDs, see the Wikipedia article on VHD.

CED (Capacitance Electronic Disc)

CEDs are the largest home video format. They consist of 12-inch discs housed in a caddy, bringing the overall size to nearly 13 x 14 inches.

dune was released in America on CED in July 1985 by MCA Home Video. The film was delivered on two CDs, with the film spread over three pages and shown in a 4:3 aspect ratio and with Dolby Surround stereo sound.

Copies are easy to find on eBay for around $20, often from America, but due to the bulky size shipping costs may be high. For more information about IBDs, see the Wikipedia article on IBD.