It’s hard to find a science fiction property that Frank Herbert’sDunehas not influenced. Published in 1965, the story of Paul Atredies would inspire a generation of artists across the entertainment world. From films to moviesand video games, many have paid tribute to one of the sci-fi genre’s most beloved works.
While many artists over the years have littered their works with small homages to the novels written by Frank Herbert, sometimes these winks and nods are more obvious. It’s hardly uncommon for writers to put Easter eggs or references in their creations, but Dune has seen more references across entertainment than most.
Updated on July 10, 2025, By Jack Nachwalter:With the release of Dune: Part Two the iconic Frank Herbert series is back in our heads. It’s influence is long-standing and you can find easter eggs about Dune in a wide range of songs, shows, movies, and more. We’ve updated this list to include some extra references to Dune that we’ve found in pop culture.
15Mandy The Merciless
The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy
Dune’s central story of warring families fighting over resources is hardly revolutionary, but it’s the extra layers of depth that Hebert added that made Dune remarkable. Between ideas of rebellion, immortality, and Spice, there are many elements that you can pull from.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, a beloved Cartoon Network series, is known for referencing other pop culture works. One episode segment called Mandy the Merciless revolves around a plot inspired by God Emperor of Dune.
14Interstellar Travel
Far Cry 3
Ubisoft’sFar Cryseries is chock-full of references. Ubisoft has filled the open-world series with plenty of pop culture hints, ranging from Assassin’s Creed to Jurassic Park. Dune is no exception, as seen in 2012’s Far Cry 3.
InUbisoft’s magnum opus, you can find memory cards scattered across the outposts. Most of these cards stay in line with the Far Cry world, but one of the memory cards is about ‘Spice’, the quintessential resource of the Dune series.
13The Girl From Jupiter
Moonrise Kingdom
Director Wes Anderson has always displayed a particular tone and style across his filmography. Anderson might not be typically linked with pop culture hints; in 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom, the Oscar-nominated director included a subtle nod to Dune.
When the main character Suzy escapes into the English wilderness with love-struck Sam, she brings several books along. One of her books, called The Girl from Jupiter, has a map of the North Pole of Arrakis on the back.
12Planet References
Star Trek Series
Few science fiction IPs are more synonymous with the genre asStar Trek. Gene Roddenberry’s franchise has been a sci-fi stable ever since its inception. Even Frank Hebert is not above paying homage to Roddenberry’s creation.
Many planets in the Star Trek galaxy possess names which reference other IPs. In an episode of Star Trek: Voyager, there is a planet called Giedi Prime. This is a clear nod to the homeworld of House Harkonnen in Dune, appropriately known as Giedi Prime.
11To Tame A Land
Iron Maiden’s Piece Of Mind
It’s not just visual media that can mention each other; music can often be full of references that cross over mediums, too. Heavy metal band Iron Maiden demonstrated its fondness for Frank Hebert’s novel with its 1983 album, Piece of Mind.
One track on the album, To Tame a Land, features several terms from Dune, including Fremen and Caladan. While Herbert himself didn’t give Iron Maiden his seal of approval on the song, he evidently didn’t take the denunciation too hard.
10Limitations
Law & Order: SVU
For over two decades, Law & Order: SVU has been a mainstay of cable television. A spin off of the Dick Wolf’s original police procedural drama, SVU has been running for over 20 seasons with more than 500 episodes and counting.
In season one, episode 14, Limitations, when a victim panics in the courtroom she says,“I must not fear. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.” This is an idiom said throughout the Dune series by individuals in moments of peril.
9Chuck Versus The Sandworm
Chuck
The charming Zachary Levi led show Chuck was full of easter eggs and references to other pop culture properties. Sure enough, Dune was just one of the many works which was spotlighted as part of Chuck’s entertaining story.
Not only did the titular character have a Dune poster in his bedroom, but one episode called Chuck Versus The Sandworm is chock full of Dune tributes, including a Dune sandworm costume being shown off at a Halloween Party.
8Jom Gabber
World Of Warcraft
One of the pinnacle scenes from the 2021 Dune film features Paul Artiendes being given the Test of Humanity by the Bene Gesserit Order. As a deterrent in case Artiendes fails, Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam holds a poison tipped needle called the Jom Gabber to Paul’s neck.
In the popular MMORPGWorld of Warcraft, the developers added an item called Gom Jabber. Not only is the Gom Jabber an explicit reference, but the item is actually quite useful as it increases attack power.
7The Drylands Over The Stormwahl
The Name Of The Wind
Author Patrick Rothfuss is no stranger to including references into his works. In his fantasy book series, The Kingkiller Chronicles, Rothfuss puts in a passage that references the archetypal sci-fi epic that shaped his writing.
In the series' first book, The Name of the Wind, there’s a moment where a girl asks to hear a story, more specifically “I want to hear about the dry lands over the Stormwahl.” The quote is an unmistakable reference to Arrakis, the single most important planet in the Dune universe.
6Savior Of This Devastated World
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind
There isn’t a more revered figure in the history of animation entertainment than Hayao Miyazaki. While the co-founder of the distinguishedStudio Ghibliis unquestionably a master at his craft, he’s not apprehensive about commending his fellow artists.
One of Miyazaki’s best films, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,shares narrative parallels to Dune both in the central story and in other respects, such as both featuring giant wormlike monsters. It’s clear Miyazaki is a huge admirer of Herbert’s work.
