Project K to Mad Max: Sci-fi movies fans think are 'heavily' inspired by Dune

​Dune, the sci-fi Frank Herbert novel first published in 1965 has inspired several films over the years including expansive franchises like 'Star Wars', 'Mad Max' and even the monster thrillers like 'Alien' and 'Tremors'. Ahead of the launch of Prabhas and Deepika Padukone's '​Project K' first glimpse, fans have predicted that the film is likely inspired by the sci-fi epic. Let's take a look...

Prabhas' first look poster from the highly anticipated film 'Project K' had fans comparing it to Robert Downey Jr's Marvel flick 'Iron Man'. However, those who managed to look past the pose, wondered if the film would be an 'Indian version of Dune'. Deepika Padukone's first look posters from the film were also compared to Zendaya's character posters, hinting that there might be something similar between the two films. While we will have to wait and see if these predictions turn out to be true, here's a look at other films inspired by the Frank Herbert novel.

Dune is set thousands of years in the future after humanity has squandered its resources and caused the collapse of nature and the environment. This bleak view repeats itself in George Miller's Mad Max movies. Although the films are dystopian more than science fiction, it sets the tone for a post-apocalyptic scene where humanity struggles to survive under self-serving tyrants and dictators.

Stanley Kubrick released '2001: A Space Odyssey' just three years after the publication of the Dune novel. However, many have noted that the film leans heavily into the book’s cerebral sci-fi and psychedelic visuals.

When Denis Villeneuves released the film adaptation of Dune, many thought the film looked 'just like Star Wars'. However, in reality, it was the other way around. While Star Wars was released in 1977 and the first Dune movie was released years later, the George Lucas films were heavily influenced by Herbert's expansive novels that were published in 1965.

The film Dune inspired Ridley Scott's 'Alien' that in turn set up a moneyspinning franchise. Did you know that the Alien Xenomorph has its roots in the design of the Harkonnen Castle that HR Giger produced for Dune? The now famous elongated skull of the Xenomorph bears spitting similarities to the head shape with a lengthened skull sitting atop the construction.

It's not hard to link the inspiration behind Tremors to Dune. The film has a bunch of subterranean monsters known as Graboids plaguing a small town in Nevada. The worm-like creatures spring out of the ground and bring with them a reign of terror, much like Dune's most iconic sandworms.